World

Catastrophic drought in West Africa

06:09 am on 22 July 2010

The World Food Programme describes a severe drought in the West African nation of Niger as an unfolding catastrophe.

The United Nations agency is appealing for donations to allow it to reach eight million people who lost crops and livestock last year.

It says the drought is affecting more than 10 million people across Niger, Chad, Northern Nigeria and Cameroon.