Concern says foreign monies can solve Niger crisis

23/07/2005 - 14:36:17
Concern says money from foreign governments, including Ireland, can tackle the crisis in the African nation of Niger.

The world's second poorest country is being devastated by drought and a plague of locusts which is destroying crops.

Tens of thousands of children are at risk of starving to death.

Nigel Tricks is with the Concern team in Niger. He says situations like this one can be avoided if countries live up to their promises.

“This can’t be allowed to persist and it shouldn’t persist and it is avoidable," he said.

“If people give the aid that they’ve promised, if we live up to our commitments then there is no reason why this kind of crisis would happen again.

“But we have to live up to our commitments, we have to fulfil our promises.”