Niger famine - We must do more to ease the suffering

WITH five million people facing starvation in the African country of Niger, there is much this country can do to alleviate the problems.

It is eight months since the United Nations made the first emergency appeal, but it was virtually ignored.

Since then, further appeals in March and May raised only a fraction of the money sought. In the light of the publicity about the problems of sub-Saharan Africa in the run up to the recent G8 Summit, it seemed strange that the disaster in Niger should catch the international community by surprise. But the international response has been growing as a result of the harrowing pictures of starving children in Niger.

David Andrews has done his part on behalf of the Irish Red Cross in highlighting the tragedy, but this country can do much more.

As a result of the Great Famine here, other people take particular notice when the Irish speak out about famine. The helps explain the high international profiles of Bono and Bob Geldof.

We should take a lead in the international community in demanding action and calling for an investigation into how such a tragedy could develop.