Niamey, Niger (PANA) – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Thursday assured the West African state of Niger that development partners would help it fight food insecurity threatening five million citizens.

"The community of silent partners, particularly the partners for the national system, have vowed to help the country face the difficult situation," Hans Peter Schadeck, UNDP resident coordinator, said during a meeting for donor countries on the food crisis.

Mr Schadeck said this year could be difficult in terms of availability of food and nutrition for vulnerable groups, particularly with the return home of thousands of migrants from Libya and the arrival of more than 10,000 people fleeing violence in Mali.

During the meeting, Niger’s Prime minister, Brigi Rafini said the cereal deficit at the close of the past agricultural season was estimated at 692,000 tonnes of cereal and 10.222 million tonnes of feed for livestock.

According to official statistics, 34.9% of households, or 5,458,871 people, face food insecurity, with 8.5% being in serious condition without food stock or livestock.

The zones most affected by the cereal deficit are Maïné Sorao and Diffa, in the region of Dosso, Tahoua and Bouza, Ouallam and Téra in the region of Tillabéri, Zinder and Gouré in the region of Zinder.

Mr Rafini said that since November, his government has outlined an emergency plan being implemented, reaffirming Niger’s appeal for food aid to face the situation.

-0- PANA SA/AAS/IBA/MSA/MA 9Feb2012