Rich nations ‘failing to act on Mali food crisis’

MORE than one million people in Mali are facing a major food crisis after rich countries failed to respond to a call for emergency funds, Oxfam said yesterday.

Just 14% of the €6.1 million requested by the World Food Programme has been received since an appeal was launched last December, the international aid agency has said.

By contrast, a request for help in neighbouring Niger, West Africa, is 57% funded, with more money on the way following media coverage, Oxfam said.