More than three million people face starvation if the world continues to ignore the worsening food crisis in Niger, an international aid agency said today.
I am appealing to the Irish people to show the kind of generosity that they did for the victims of the tsunamiIrish Red Cross Chairman David Andrews
The Irish Red Cross and Goal have appealed for Ireland to help.
Kafoworola Quist of Oxfam said the situation was desperate. "Even the limited food that is available has soared in price rendering it unaffordable for most families and there is no hope of any harvest for at least three months," she said.
"Families are feeding their children grass and leaves from the trees to keep them alive."
A UN emergency flash appeal for the west African country was launched in May after a locust invasion last year and rain failure during the agricultural season plunged nomadic herder and farming families into crisis.
But the failure to fund these appeals is putting lives at risk, according to the UN.
UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland said: "This emergency in Niger is chronically underfunded and more support is urgently needed from the international community."
UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland earlier accused global nations of ignoring the crisis in the west African country.
Ireland has pledged €1 million towards tackling the famine crisis, it emerged last night.
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs Conor Lenihan said: "This is a significant preliminary contribution from the Irish Government and we hope that other countries will follow our lead," he said.
An assessment team from Irish aid agency Goal left for Niger yesterday. It is considering sending a a plane load of medical supplies to the Niger capital of Niamey.
Goal chief executive John O'Shea said: "This is all about urgency. If the food doesn't flow now we are looking at another preventable famine. There can be no excuses.
"Major governments must accept responsibility and not pass the buck to the United Nations and other agencies. Ireland can and should let our friends at the top table know of our deep concern," he said.
Goal has called on the Government to exert maximum pressure on the international community to ensure that massive quantities of food are rushed to Niger.
The Irish Red Cross said it would send €100,000 to Niger. The organisation's chairman, David Andrews, said: "We cannot allow children in Africa to again starve to death.
"I am appealing to the Irish people to show the kind of generosity that they did for the victims of the tsunami, and respond to our appeal for Niger and the surrounding countries where children are acutely at risk from dying of hunger," Mr Andrews said.