No, I’m not talking about Wilson’s trip. If you are not restricted to USA media and the blogosphere for news, you’ll know already that I’m talking about the 3.6 million people about to starve to death there:
“The situation is desperate. Even the limited food that is available has soared in price, rendering it unaffordable for most families, and there is no hope of any harvest for at least three months,” said Natasha Kafoworola Quist, an Oxfam spokeswoman.
“Families are feeding their children grass and leaves from the trees to keep them alive.”
Oxfam said U.N. appeals for aid were “dangerously” underfunded, with only one third of the money needed from donors being pledged. In many cases, the pledged money hasn’t arrived, the agency added.
The United Nations first appealed for assistance for Niger in November and got almost no response. Another appeal for $16 million in March got about $1 million. The latest appeal on May 25 for $30 million has received about $10 million.
We spend that much money in an hour in Iraq. This is so goddam preventable! Why are the American news media ingoring this? More important, why are the blogs ignoring this?
Aid is long overdue. The BBC World coverage has been horrifying, every night. Remember all the people killed in the tsunami disaster? Add another zero on the end of that figure and you’re almost getting close to Niger.
Oxfam needs donations now. Please!
