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Food Crisis by Marco Di Lauro

Food Crisis by Marco Di Lauro

Food Crisis by Marco Di Lauro

AUTHOR:

Marco Di Lauro

CLIENT:

UNICEF

PHOTOS:

Marco Di Lauro

YEAR:

2010 

LINKS:

Marco Di Lauro

Marco Di Lauro tells us about Food Crisis, a photographic project he made free for UNICEF in 2010, regarding the serious problem of malnutrition in Niger. Food Crisis allowed him to win the World Press Photo in 2011.

Koubdo Saboua, Niger – June 25, 2010 – Photo: Marco Di Lauro

The work with which you won the World Press Photo seems to me to be a strong statement …

I must say that it’s the only job I’ve done for free in my life. Already this makes me think! UNICEF ​​has always been one of my biggest clients and some of the people in charge came to me telling me that there was a big food problem in Niger and that it was essential for them to raise public awareness, but they didn’t have enough money to pay me. I decided to go anyway.

Gadabedji, Niger – June 27, 2010 – Photo: Marco Di Lauro

Their goal was onerous, that is, to raise about 127 million dollars in just three months in order to build structures suitable to host many of these dying people. Thanks also to my work, the money was raised, and this made me feel good. Unfortunately, I also have to say that none of the agencies to which I offered the story was interested in acquiring it, although the situation reversed completely after they learned that I had won the World Press Photo with these shots.

  • MADAROUNFA, NIGER - JUNE 26: Inoussa Ahalima, 23-months-old is seen at a pediatric hospital for severely malnourished children with medical complications on June 26, 2010 in Madarounfa in Niger. Inoussa is severely malnourished and also suffering from complications as a result of malnourishment and respiratory infection and diarrhea. He weighs just 5.1kgs. Doctors the Madarounfa CRENI (pediatric hospital for severely malnourished children with medical complications), one of the largest in Niger, are trying to increase his weight to at least 7.9kgs before discharging him. He will be referred to a CRENAS (outpatient pediatric post for severely malnourished children) for follow-up. Up to May this CRENI has had a 70% increase in the number of children being admitted here compared to last year and an increase in deaths by 41%. Seven million people are going hungry each day because of a severe food crisis gripping the country. Of this number 1.6 million children are severely or moderately malnourished and another 1 million at risk of malnutrition. UNICEF urgently requires US$ 147 million to provide emergency food and medicine for them. At Madarounfa, on the border with Nigeria, is one of the largest CRENIs (pediatric hospital for severely malnourished children with medical complications). Up to May there has been a 70% increase in the number of children being admitted compared to last year and an increase in deaths by 41%. These children are so severely malnourished that medical complications develop. Seven million people are going hungry each day because of a severe food crisis gripping the country. Of this number 1.6 million children are severely or moderately malnourished and another 1 million at risk of malnutrition. UNICEF urgently requires US$ 147 million to provide food and medicines for them. A serious food crisis is gripping the West African nation of Niger as a result of poor rains. Crops have failed, watercourses have dried up, and thousands of animals are dying. Seven million people are going hungry each day of which 2.5 million are children. Medical clinics across this vast country are overflowing with hundreds of thousands of children suffering from severe and moderate malnutrition. One of the largest pediatric hospitals reports a 41% increase in the number of children dying. The crisis has become much worse since March 2010 forcing UNICEF to revise its initial emergency appeal of US$ 22 million to US$ 147 million to provide medicines, therapeutic foods, and emergency food supply for approximately 2.5 million children. Pediatric clinics for the severe and moderately malnourished children under 5 are being supplied with therapeutic foods and medicine by UNICEF. Many of these clinics are run by MSF, Save the Children, and other NGOs. Of the US$ 147 million, US$ 73.5 is for UNICEF and WFP to provide emergency food for nearly 1 million children living in vulnerable areas from July until December 2010. (Marco Di Lauro/Reportage by Getty Images )
  • KOUBDO SABOUA, NIGER - JUNE 25: A Nigerien girl is seen as she attends a cash transfer program on June 25, 2010 in Koubdo Saboua in Niger. A faster method of feeding people in Niger who are affected by the severe food crisis - the worst since 2005 - is a Cash Transfer program. Two international NGOs are trying out this program. UNICEF says that it is faster because they do not have to organize shipping, trucking, storage, distribution and other logistics for food supplies. On the trial program families that have at least one child under 5, at least one acre of land and no animals receive 20,000 CFA (�27.71) per month to buy food. At the current cost of living rate, this is adequate to help a family with seven children. There are other conditions and training on what nutritional foods to buy. Each month there are checks done to determine whether the rate of malnutrition is falling among the beneficiary families. This is one of a multi-prong emergency approach to deal with malnutrition among children in the West African nation. There are about 1.6 million children who are severely or moderately malnourished. Another 1 million are at risk of malnutrition. UNICEF urgently requires US$ 147 million to provide emergency food and medicine for them.
  • MARADI REGION, NIGER - JUNE 25: Saguirou Sani, 17-months-old is seen held by her mother at a pediatric clinic for severely malnourished children on June 25, 2010 in the Maradi Region in Niger. Saguirou has had diarrhoea and no appetite for the last three days. At the CRENAS (a paediatric clinic for severely malnourished children), the doctor says these are all symptoms of severe malnutrition. He weights 6.3kg but at this age he should be about 15kg. He will be given a diet of Plumpy'Nut for the next four weeks and expected to make a fully recovery. Seven million people are going hungry each day because of a severe food crisis gripping the country. A serious food crisis is gripping the West African nation of Niger as a result of poor rains. Crops have failed, watercourses have dried up, and thousands of animals are dying. Seven million people are going hungry each day of which 1.6 million children are severely or moderately malnourished and another 1 million at risk of malnutrition. Medical clinics across this vast country are overflowing with hundreds of thousands of children suffering from severe and moderate malnutrition. One of the largest pediatric hospitals reports a 41% increase in the number of children dying. The crisis has become much worse since March 2010 forcing UNICEF to revise its initial emergency appeal of US$ 22 million to US$ 147 million to provide medicines, therapeutic foods, and emergency food supply for approximately 2.5 million children. Pediatric clinics for the severe and moderately malnourished children under 5 are being supplied with therapeutic foods and medicine by UNICEF. Many of these clinics are run by MSF, Save the Children, and other NGOs. Of the US$ 147 million, US$ 73.5 is for UNICEF and WFP to provide emergency food for nearly 1 million children living in vulnerable areas from July until December 2010. (Marco Di Lauro/Reportage by Getty Images )
  • GADABEDJI, NIGER - JUNE 27: Entrails of dead animals are seen hanged as meet traders buy the animals dead bodies to cook them on the spot and send them to Nigeria on June 27, 2010 in the village of Gadabedji in Niger. The stench from dead animals is very bad in Dakoro, about 450 km north-east of the Nigerien capital, Niamey. This vast reserve in Gadabedji is the last grazing outpost for animals across this large West African State. In the last two weeks of June 4,000 animals died as a result of a severe food crisis gripping this nation of 15 million people and affecting nearly half of the population. Meat traders roam the area buying dying animals for a fraction of the going rate. The meat is cooked on the spot and shipped to Nigeria. One man had to sell his animals (normally worth 400,000 CFA) for 70,000 CFA. His children are severely malnourished due to a lack of food. They are among 1.6 million children who are severely or moderately malnourished. Another 1 million are at risk of malnutrition. UNICEF urgently requires US$ 147 million to provide emergency food and medicine for them. A serious food crisis is gripping the West African nation of Niger as a result of poor rains. Crops have failed, watercourses have dried up, and thousands of animals are dying. Seven million people are going hungry each day of which 2.5 million are children. Medical clinics across this vast country are overflowing with hundreds of thousands of children suffering from severe and moderate malnutrition. One of the largest pediatric hospitals reports a 41% increase in the number of children dying. The crisis has become much worse since March 2010 forcing UNICEF to revise its initial emergency appeal of US$ 22 million to US$ 147 million to provide medicines, therapeutic foods, and emergency food supply for approximately 2.5 million children. Pediatric clinics for the severe and moderately malnourished children under 5 are being supplied with therapeutic foods and medicine by UNICEF. Many of these clinics are run by MSF, Save the Children, and other NGOs. Of the US$ 147 million, US$ 73.5 is for UNICEF and WFP to provide emergency food for nearly 1 million children living in vulnerable areas from July until December 2010. (Marco Di Lauro/Reportage by Getty Images )
  • GADABEDJI, NIGER - JUNE 27: Nigerien meet traders are seen cooking the meet of animals dead bodies to send the meet to Nigeria after buying them from villagers on June 27, 2010 in the village of Gadabedji in Niger. The stench from dead animals is very bad in Dakoro, about 450 km north-east of the Nigerien capital, Niamey. This vast reserve in Gadabedji is the last grazing outpost for animals across this large West African State. In the last two weeks of June 4,000 animals died as a result of a severe food crisis gripping this nation of 15 million people and affecting nearly half of the population. Meat traders roam the area buying dying animals for a fraction of the going rate. The meat is cooked on the spot and shipped to Nigeria. One man had to sell his animals (normally worth 400,000 CFA) for 70,000 CFA. His children are severely malnourished due to a lack of food. They are among 1.6 million children who are severely or moderately malnourished. Another 1 million are at risk of malnutrition. UNICEF urgently requires US$ 147 million to provide emergency food and medicine for them. A serious food crisis is gripping the West African nation of Niger as a result of poor rains. Crops have failed, watercourses have dried up, and thousands of animals are dying. Seven million people are going hungry each day of which 2.5 million are children. Medical clinics across this vast country are overflowing with hundreds of thousands of children suffering from severe and moderate malnutrition. One of the largest pediatric hospitals reports a 41% increase in the number of children dying. The crisis has become much worse since March 2010 forcing UNICEF to revise its initial emergency appeal of US$ 22 million to US$ 147 million to provide medicines, therapeutic foods, and emergency food supply for approximately 2.5 million children. Pediatric clinics for the severe and moderately malnourished children under 5 are being supplied with therapeutic foods and medicine by UNICEF. Many of these clinics are run by MSF, Save the Children, and other NGOs. Of the US$ 149 million, US$ 73.5 is for UNICEF and WFP to provide emergency food for nearly 1 million children living in vulnerable areas from July until December 2010. (Marco Di Lauro/Reportage by Getty Images )
  • MARADI REGION, NIGER - JUNE 25: Nigerien Archirou Edi Cahibou, 10-months-old is seen holded by her mother at a pediatric clinic for severely malnourished children on June 25, 2010 in the Maradi Region in Niger. Archirou Edi Cahibou, 10 months old, is rushed to a CRENAS (paediatric clinic for severely malnourished children) in the Maradi region, 650km east of the capital. A routine monthly medical check in his village of Bouzei finds signs of his nutritional deficit. Due to the severe food crisis this year CRENAS are operating seven days a week - as compared to only one day per week last year. More than 1.5 million children are being treated this year for severe malnutrition and the death rates have also increased. An early detection programme is being piloted in 800 villages across to teach the people how to check their children every month for signs of malnutrition. During the planting season, families work in the fields and only take their children to a CRENAS when they are very sick and severely malnourished. This programme is a win-win situation for all - and especially for Archirou who is expected to make a full recovery. A serious food crisis is gripping the West African nation of Niger as a result of poor rains. Crops have failed, watercourses have dried up, and thousands of animals are dying. Seven million people are going hungry each day of which 1.6 million children are severely or moderately malnourished and another 1 million at risk of malnutrition. Medical clinics across this vast country are overflowing with hundreds of thousands of children suffering from severe and moderate malnutrition. One of the largest pediatric hospitals reports a 41% increase in the number of children dying. The crisis has become much worse since March 2010 forcing UNICEF to revise its initial emergency appeal of US$ 22 million to US$ 147 million to provide medicines, therapeutic foods, and emergency food supply for approximately 2.5 million children. Pediatric clinics for the severe and moderately malnourished children under 5 are being supplied with therapeutic foods and medicine by UNICEF. Many of these clinics are run by MSF, Save the Children, and other NGOs. Of the US$ 147 million, US$ 73.5 is for UNICEF and WFP to provide emergency food for nearly 1 million children living in vulnerable areas from July until December 2010. (Marco Di Lauro/Reportage by Getty Images )

From our interview with Marco Di Lauro

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