Niger population and Malian refugess hard hit by food crisis

Already hard hit by a mediocre growing season in 2011-2012, characterized by rainfall badly distributed in time and place, the population in North Tillabery has to share its meagre resources with the many refugees arriving from Mali. According to the authorities in Niger, more than 30,000 Malians from the Menaka area and an estimated 8,000 Niger nationals living in Mali have found refuge in Niger since the beginning of the year, fleeing the fighting between government forces and armed groups. <br>