1 million children under five are at risk of dying from severe acute malnutrition and require immediate relief. An additional 3 million children are at risk of moderate acute malnutrition.
Poor water resources, rising food prices and empty food stores mean many are eating just one meal a day. According to forecasts, the crisis will be acute until September 2012 in Burkina Faso, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Chad, northern Nigeria and northern Cameroon. But, there is no certainty how long this will last! Stories from the ground show the difficult circumstances leading many to rely on humanitarian aid.
To watch a video of the West Africa food crisis, click here