Nomads e-mail for aid
2005-08-02 11:25
Azogor - The Tuareg and Fulani herdsmen of northeastern Niger live without electricity or running water, roaming the remotest regions to find pasture for their cows.
But when the hunger crisis that has devastated Niger reached them, they found a 21st century way to call for help: they sent an e-mail - and say donors responded with cash the nomads traded for food for their families and their cattle.
"Science has evolved these days and we knew we could reach out to the world via e-mail," said Amadou Doutchi, a Fulani leader and chairperson of an association of herders and farmers in Dakoro, a region of sparse vegetation, sandy dunes and scorching sun.
Most nomads have never seen a computer - unsurprising in a desperately poor country where only 17% of adults can read.
But, Doutchi is computer savvy and he and other literate members of the association approached local government officials with the idea of sending an e-mail.
Doutchi, who already had his own account on a free, web-based e-mail service, approached governments and aid groups.
A plea for help
"Please help!" Doutchi wrote. "A catastrophe is in the making in the northeastern part of Niger among the nomad community and unless something is done we'll be heading to the worst."
Hunger is perennially a problem in Niger. But a locust invasion last year followed by drought have made the problem worse.
Almost a third of Niger's population of 11.3 million is in crisis, with its children being the most vulnerable.
About 800 000 children under five are going hungry, including 150 000 faced with severe malnutrition.
The crisis struck at the nomads' most-precious possession. About 3 000 cows died in the region of Dakoro in June alone.
"Some herders who possessed between 30 and 50 animals woke up with none," Doutchi said, adding that despair led one nomad to kill himself by diving into a well, and another slit his throat.
A positive response
Sseveral organisations responded to Doutchi's e-mail asking for more details on the community and its needs.
Doutchi believes a $150 000 cash donation from the Canadian government can be traced to his e-mail, although Canadian officials could not comment.
Canada has contributed a total of $1m to the World Food Programme (WFP) to combat hunger in Niger.
The nomads used the money to buy 200 tons of millet and 100 tons of animal feed.
Doutchi's organisation, which includes Tuareg and Fulani groups representing 55 000 nomads, also has received 100 tons of food aid from the WPF.
Doutchi said: "Of course, we are happy to receive this aid, but at the same time, we are trading our dignity for 5kg of sorghum."
"The Fulani man has never counted on anybody for assistance, just Mother Nature."
Shaken by the hunger crisis, some of the nomads in their flowing robes and giant turbans in blue and white are considering the prospect of abandoning their traditional way of life.
- AP