Niger

About the Situation

Niger is ranked 167 out of 177 countries in the UNDP’s Human Development Index, a measure of well-being and living conditions for countries around the world. Niger’s low ranking is indicative of the rampant poverty and lack of resources that stifle progress for more than 16 million individuals there.

Rapid population growth also adds to the strain that Niger suffers—the World Food Programme reports that Niger has one of the highest rates of population increase in the world. And, as the U.S. government notes, the high concentration of people puts many of the inhabitants at a very high risk for contracting diseases, such as AIDS, hepatitis A, malaria and typhoid fever.

Malnutrition and inaccessibility to regular medical attention only exacerbate the poor health conditions of millions in Niger, and stifle their ability to work and generate income, driving them deeper into the pit of poverty.

How Islamic Relief is Helping

Islamic Relief^TM began working in Niger in 2005 with an emergency response to address a food and nutritional crisis there. Islamic Relief teams continue to work with local organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to implement and oversee development projects in the region.

Here are some current and recently completed programs in Niger:

• Emergency relief
  Islamic Relief teams distributed hundreds of food packages, hygiene kits and blankets, and administered emergency medical service to help survivors of flooding that swept through the Tillaberi region in 2010.
• Health
• Sustainable livelihood
• Water and sanitation

Here are photos taken by Islamic Relief team members in the field in Niger.

HOW YOU CAN HELP