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mauritania faces famine your profits to help MAURITANIA FACES FAMINE

Experts say the West-African famine is not merely restricted to Niger. A belt of nations stretching from the western frontiers of Chad to the Atlantic Ocean are facing hunger as are Mauritania, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

One million citizens of Mauritania, a member of the Arab League, one third of the total population, are at risk, say international aid agencies. Six million citizens of the neighboring countries are also at risk, as a result of the drought last year as well as the locust invasion that affected the region.

In response, West Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS announced on Monday, that it is donating $1 million in aid for three member countries. Niger will receive $600,000, and Burkina Faso and Mali would each receive $200,000.

Mauritania, not being a member of ECOWAS, did not receive any aid, and will have to wait for help from international aid agencies, or from the Arab League.

By The Media Line Staff on Tuesday, August 02, 2005



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