Irish Red Cross to assess situation in Niger this week

The Irish Red Cross is due to meet Conor Lenihan, the Minister for Overseas Development, today to discuss the food crisis in the west African nation of Niger.

Millions of people are facing severe food shortages following a drought and a plague of locusts in the world's second poorest country. Hundreds of thousands of children are at risk of starving to death.

An Irish Red Cross delegation is due to depart for the region this week to assess the situation.