Annan arrives in Niger to assess humanitarian needs

Secretary-General Kofi Annan began a two-day visit to Niger on 23 August to
see first-hand United Nations efforts to help the people of one of
the world's poorest countries face the challenges of drought,
desertification and the recent locust plague that have caused severe food shortages and put nearly 3 million people at risk.

Mr. Annan touched down in the southern town of Zinder, located in one of
the hardest-hit regions and about 750 kilometres east of the capital
Niamey, where he was welcomed by Niger’s President, Mamadou Tandja. I have
come here to see for myself what is happening so that I can discuss with
the President and the Government what we can do together to improve the
situation not only in the short term, but also in the long run, he told
reporters. Accompanied by his wife Nane, he visited the National Hospital
of Zinder and a feeding centre run by the non-governmental
organization (NGO) Medicins sans Frontieres (MSF), both places crowded with
malnourished children, most of them under five years old, and mothers. He thanked MSF for the good work it is performing.

He also saw cereal banks and fertilizer cooperatives in the village of
Madera. The Secretary-General then travelled to Niamey for meetings with the UN country team. He will also visit a hospital, a feeding centre and speak to UN and other aid workers. UN agencies have already launched a nearly $81 million appeal to tackle the situation arising from drought and
the worst invasion of crop-devouring locusts in 15 years, aiming to get
food assistance to all at-risk areas to avoid an increase in hunger among
the 2.65 million people most at risk.