Niger seeks aid as 93000 return from Libya

NIAMEY — Niger on Friday appealed for international aid to assist more than 93,000 citizens who have returned to the country since February after fleeing violence in Libya and Ivory Coast."I appeal to all your countries and organisations to help us cope with this situation," Niger Foreign Minister Mohamed Bazoum said to foreign diplomats and UN representatives in comments broadcast on state television.He said that of 1.7 million euros ($2.4 million) requested, only 496,000 euros had been received and the country "may face a famine" if a remedy is not found.Food insecurity is already growing in Zinder and Diffa in the east and Tahoua in the west, ahead of the new crop year beginning in June.These three areas are home to most of an estimated three million people left under-nourished since drought last year led to food shortages, according to the agriculture ministry.A popular uprising in Libya and deadly post-election violence in Ivory Coast sent 93,481 Niger citizens fleeing home, according to a committee set up in March to welcome the former emigrants.Some 3,000 other west Africans have come through Niger from Libya since February and thousands more are expected in the coming weeks, said committee chairman Agaly Abdoulkader."The situation is worsening, and the flow of arrivals is increasing," Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said Wednesday at a meeting of the welcoming committee. Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved. More »

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