The Zakat Foundation of America

Aug 12, 2010

Zakat Foundation continues to support food distribution in the areas hit by famine in Niger, West Africa. In coordination with its local partner, the distribution of dry rations, which includes millet, rice, beans and oil, are being delivered to six schools in areas in the Iferouane and Gougaram locales of the Agadez region.

The food delivered to schools helps ensure that the children of nomadic peoples who often move around during the rainy season will have access both to education and nutritious meals.

Zakat Foundation has received the appreciation of officials in these areas who encourage not only the continuation but the expansion of the food distribution because overall the situation on the ground has not improved since the Zakat Foundation began food distributions in June of this year.

Alhamdulilah, the rainy season has come to Niger after a long period of severe and crippling drought. It is hoped that in a few months insha'Allah, there might be enough grass pasture to feed the animals upon which the nomadic peoples of Niger heavily depend. For now, the food supply for both the nomadic people and their animals is still dire.

One herder who benefitted from the emergency animal feed distribution which Zakat Foundation supported in the village of Foudouk said that the animal feed was “like gold,” because his starving animals have had little grass, and have instead ingested large amounts of sand which contributed to their death. The severe drought conditions have killed at least forty-percent of the herd animals in his area.

Zakat Foundation asks its donors to remember the hungry children of Niger and the bleak situation their families are facing and to donate generously to support continued famine relief food distributions.