Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso have been badly affected by food shortages.
Niger
Niger is the worst affected country - children are starving to death every day in parts of the south, aid agencies say. The World Food Programme says that 2.5m people need food aid - almost a quarter of the population. Some 32,000 children need food aid and medical help soon or they will starve.
Niger was the world’s second poorest country even before poor rains and locust invasions devastated last year’s crops. This time of year is always known as the “lean season” - last year’s harvests have run out and this year’s crops are not yet ready.
More: news.bbc.co.uk
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