'Millions needed now to avoid Niger famine'

[iolsa]

Niamey - The British aid agency Oxfam says millions of dollars are needed  urgently to stop a hunger crisis in Niger turning into a catastrophe.

It says some 1.9 million people are at severe risk and that number could rise to 3.5 million next month. More than 6 million of  the population of 17 million need immediate help.

Oxfam's Niger director Samuel Braimah said Monday that "All signs point to an impending catastrophe" and that "the world cannot  allow this to happen."

He said Oxfam has received only 2.9 million euro ($3.8 million) of the 15 million euro (nearly $20 million) it needs to help.

Oxfam blamed a lethal mix of drought, erratic rains, high food prices, entrenched poverty and regional conflict that has brought tens of thousands of refugees to Niger. - Sapa-AP



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