The Niger | Response overview (May 2020)

Increased violence in bordering regions with Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria, and intercommunal conflict have caused an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Niger along with higher levels of food insecurity and malnutrition. Poor distribution of rains, delayed rains and absence of rains, depending on the area, have resulted in an 11.3-million tonne fodder deficit, significantly disrupting the livelihoods of pastoral households, which are already affected by restricted access to traditional grazing grounds in neighbouring countries due to increased insecurity. The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the related restrictive measures put in place in response to the pandemic have further exacerbated the vulnerability of rural and urban households. In the context of the pandemic, it is crucial to support vulnerable farmers in the preparation of off-season and irrigated crop production activities, as well as in terms of food processing and conservation, marketing and to reduce food production losses.