According to the Famine Early Warning Network (FewsNet), conditions in Niger have improved dramatically following a bumper harvest in the region.

The agency said in November that there was an ample supply of grain in the markets and that prices had dropped significantly.

While pockets of food insecurity remain, the emergency has now stabilised and aid agencies are focusing on longer-term activities such as livestock support, food-for-work schemes and cereal banks.

The World Food Programme (WFP) said in October that nearly 300,000 children had been treated at over 900 feeding centres across the country and acute malnutrition levels had dropped to 11.8 percent from a high of 17.3 percent in 2000.

But the WFP and many other organisations continue to point out that a reduction in acute cases does little to alter the underlying chronic malnutrition.

West Africa Hunger

Horn of Africa hunger

Southern Africa hunger

African hunger: Myths and realities

Key statistics

Population	14.4 million (U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2006)
Proportion of malnourished in total population	34 percent (FAO)
Life expectancy at birth	44.4 years (UNDP)

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