What is the latest on the nutritional crisis in Niger?
Since the start of 2005, 30,000 children suffering from severe malnutrition have been admitted to our therapeutic feeding centers. We expect to treat up to 50,000 by the end of this year. The admission rate in our therapeutic feeding centers in Maradi and Zinder remains at its highest level. In the region of Maradi, in the second week of September, we reached a peak of over 2,000 admissions of children suffering from severe malnutrition. Since April 2005, MSF has called for the implementation of free food distribution. What is the current situation in terms of access to food for the people of Niger? Up until July, we have continually questioned the decision taken by the Nigerien government and other aid providers to respond to the crisis by selling food rather than distributing it for free. From mid-July, the increased media coverage–which was late but nevertheless effective–has led to an international aid effort. However, the implementation of food distributions organized by the World
