CERF allocates $2 million for emergency food assistance to the vulnerable population in Niger
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| A child receiving emergency food through a tube in Niger [Photo: IRIN] |
26 September 2008: While overall nutritional indicators appear to be improving in Niger, malnutrition at national level remains at 10 percent, a serious condition that requires a global response. In response, CERF has granted $2 million to three UN agencies. The funding will support child malnutrition programmes in the most severely-affected districts, agriculture assistance to farming households affected by rising food and input prices, as well as air transport services to the humanitarian community working in the country. Some 150,000 people will benefit from the assistance programmes.
[Last Update: 4 November 2008]
CERF allocates $ 1 million to control the meningitis outbreak in Niger
18 June 2008: Niger is landlocked and located in the centre of the African meningitis belt. The hot, dry climate is favourable for the development of meningitis epidemics between October and June. The last major meningitis outbreak occurred in 2000 and was limited to certain health districts. Localities outside of the outbreak did not benefit from the immunization campaign in 2000 and were left vulnerable to future outbreaks.
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| A girl and her mother in Niger [Photo: WFP] |
Over 2,000 cases and 118 deaths have been reported in the first four months of 2008. With the current rate of 350 new cases per week, there could be another 2,000 meningitis cases recorded before the end of the epidemic season.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is responding to the epidemic using CERF funds by purchasing and transporting rapid diagnosis tests, drugs, vaccines and medical supplies for an immunization campaign and management of meningitis cases to immunization sites. WHO is supervising immunization teams in the field while supporting coordination activities and collect data for epidemiological surveillance. 800,000 people in the Dosso, Tillaberi, Tahoua and Zinder regions are expected to benefit from the immunization campaign.
[Last Update: 30 June 2008]
CERF allocates US$ 700,000 tosupport safe, efficient and sufficient air transport for the hummanitarian community in Niger
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| Safe and reliable air service is crucial to facilitate the movement of UN humanitarian agencies, NGOs, and government counterparts [Photo: WFP] |
3 April 2008: Areas in northern and eastern Niger experienced several dangerous events including the detonation of road mines, armed ambushes and hijacking of international NGO vehicles in late 2007. A resulting UN ban on long-distance road travel by UN and NGO staff in parts of the country has severely affected the humanitarian community’s ability to reach many people in need. Without domestic airlines to provide the necessary services an alternate means of travel is essential to the humanitarian community in Niger.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is using CERF funds to initiate the start up of air transport for humanitarian actors through the UN Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS). UNHAS is providing a reliable and cost efficient air service in the country to Tahoua, Agadez, Diffa, Maradi and Zinder and the Sahel region using one aircraft based in Niamey.
[Last Update: 16 April 2008]