---

Sahel

Answer

The United Nations currently estimates that the food crisis in the Sahel region of west Africa has left over 18 million people at risk of food shortage over the next few months. Of these, 8 million people require urgent assistance.

UK contributions stand at £25.4 million.

This British aid will support 1.6 million people at risk of hunger across Mali, Niger, Chad, Mauritania and Burkina Faso, to achieve the following results:

Improved nutrition for 185,000 children and women, including therapeutic treatment to save the lives of over 110,000 severely malnourished children under five years old;

Food and cash vouchers for over 250,000 men, women and children;

Livelihoods support to over 980,000 people through:

1. The provision of seeds and tools for families to enable them to feed themselves for the next year and;

2. Animal feed and vaccinations to keep farmers' livestock alive.

These direct funds are in addition to £27 million of UK contributions also being provided in 2012 to the Sahel region through multilateral agencies such as the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) and the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

UK officials continue to monitor the situation closely, and liaise with our opposite numbers in other governments to urge other countries also to take their fair share of the response.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

115198; 547 cc843-4W

Session

2012-13

Subjects

Development aid Food Sahel

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk