The Fulani tribe, whose village was among the hardest-hit by last year's famine, stand in front of their newly dedicated food bank.

Each bank is stocked with several tons of millet, a common cereal grain, that will sustain approx. 600 families during seasons of drought and famine.

NIGER, Africa - In the wake of last year's devastating famine and with another predicted to hit this year, food security in Niger is a critical issue. To help communities survive the dry season, Operation Blessing has constructed a permanent food bank building near the village of Diagourou, 100 miles outside the capital city.

"We hope to construct five more banks in the area before the arrival of this year's drought," said David Darg, OBI's assistant director of international programs.

The bank, which was officially dedicated on March 17, is a much-needed solution following last year's famine that left 3.6 million residents of Niger on the brink of starvation and continues to plague much of West Africa. OBI partnered with Humedica and the World Food Program to help distribute more than 5,000 tons of food and provide medicine and healthcare services to villagers.

The recent construction of the food bank is part of OBI's long-term solution to fight Niger's ongoing food crisis. "Unlike last year, the villagers now have a lifeline and will receive millet from the bank," Darg said. "There is enough millet in the bank to sustain 600 families until rainy season, when they can grow crops again."

To ensure a sufficient supply of food, villagers will give a portion of their harvest to the food bank to replenish the millet stock for the next year. A committee will oversee the distribution and restocking of the food bank and issue cards to villagers to track the amount of grain each family receives from the bank during times of famine.

With the launch of the food bank program, OBI has also established a new regional center in the capital city of Niamey to better support food security projects as well as provide medical aid and supply clean water to villages across Niger.

In addition, ongoing micro-enterprise projects in the neighboring country of Burkina Faso are helping villagers generate food and income year-round. The project, which was started over two years ago, has been so successful that it is now being replicated in the country of Senegal. Villagers are given plots of land to grow fruits and vegetables and then sell in the local market. A water well is drilled in close proximity to the garden which ensures continual irrigation and harvesting of crops – giving families not only food to survive, but a steady income.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every day, the fleet of Hunger Strike Force trucks are on the road, delivering nutritious food and essential supplies to thousands facing hunger and poverty. With your help, we can continue to impact lives and give hope to those who need it most. Consider making an online donation today.

 

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