(Nairobi)July 27, 2005 Posted to the web August 1, 2005 Sydney,...

(Nairobi)

July 27, 2005
Posted to the web August 1, 2005

Sydney, Australia

Three of Australia 's major aid and development agencies have come together to call on Australians to donate to those affected by the food crisis in Niger.

"The agencies, Caritas Australia, Oxfam Australia and World Vision, are collaborating in their call for funds amid warnings the crisis in Niger may be followed by life threatening famines in nearby Mali and Mauritania," the three said in a joint statement posted on the Carit as Australia website.

"All three agencies have been working in Niger since at least 2004, providing support when drought and locust plagues first threatened food supplies," the media release added.

At least 3.6 million people are suffering from food shortages and up to 2.5 million are eating wild food sources. It is estimated that three in every 10 000 children are dying daily from severe malnutrition.

Given that the next harvest is expected in October, the long-term consequences on livelihoods, especially the loss of livestock, are likely to impact on food security for years to come.

Food aid to Niger is further complicated by the food shortages in nearby Mali and Mauritania.