Niger Suffers Famine

DAKORO, NIGER - AUGUST 08: Young women pound grains of millet with pestle and mortar after receiving the millet distributed to the villagers of Douloukou by Care International on August 8, 2005 near Dakoro, Niger. Care International distributed 50 kg bags of millet to each family in the village. The ration of millet should last a family of five for 15 days. The villages store of extra millet was used up months ago when the famine began. The current crop is due in 6 weeks and the villagers need continued rain for the next six weeks for that harvest to be sufficient. A food crisis is threatening the lives of thousands in the impoverished West African nation. A combination of sever drought and a locust plague has caused the famine which has affected at least 2 million people in Niger and approximatly 5 million in the region. Niger is the second poorest country in the world, with 64 percent of the 12 millions inhabitants surviving on less than US$1 (81 euro cents) day. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)