New food aid to Niger

The World Food Programme has given Niger a grant of $5m to buy food for victims of a famine which has lasted nearly a year.

Grain stores will be supplemented in the worst-hit areas, and food will be given directly to families suffering from malnutrition.

France has also helped with a grant of more than $1.5m to build up food supplies and to re-launch potato production in the north.

Correspondents say that more than 80% of Nigeriens live from agriculture, and about 35% of the population is said to be suffering from famine.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service