Annan tours hunger-stricken Niger

ZINDER – Facing criticism that the United Nations acted too slowly to avert starvation in Niger, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan visited one of the worst affected areas yesterday to draw more attention to the crisis.

Greeted by over 1 000 people at the airport in the town of Zinder, 750 km east of the capital Niamey, Annan was due to meet President Tandja Mamadou and visit a clinic for infants wasted by the impact of last year’s drought and locusts. “I have been here since 7am, I’m very happy that he is coming here, this is a big day,” said Hadjara Nouhouh, 29, one of the crowd who sang and cheered when Annan arrived.Medical organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which runs the clinic in Zinder and has treated more than 21 000 severely malnourished children this year, said the United Nations should have begun emergency food distribution to tackle the crisis much earlier.”The UN was slow to react to the current epidemic of acute malnutrition in Niger, and its response continues to be inadequate,” MSF said in a statement.”The most deprived Nigeriens, or those in greatest need, had no access to assistance,” the statement said.The United Nations argues that it would have been able to prevent the worst ravages of the crisis had donor countries reacted more quickly to appeals it made for money in May, saying a lack of donations hampered its ability to respond.- Nampa-Reuters”I have been here since 7am, I’m very happy that he is coming here, this is a big day,” said Hadjara Nouhouh, 29, one of the crowd who sang and cheered when Annan arrived.Medical organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which runs the clinic in Zinder and has treated more than 21 000 severely malnourished children this year, said the United Nations should have begun emergency food distribution to tackle the crisis much earlier.”The UN was slow to react to the current epidemic of acute malnutrition in Niger, and its response continues to be inadequate,” MSF said in a statement.”The most deprived Nigeriens, or those in greatest need, had no access to assistance,” the statement said.The United Nations argues that it would have been able to prevent the worst ravages of the crisis had donor countries reacted more quickly to appeals it made for money in May, saying a lack of donations hampered its ability to respond.- Nampa-Reuters