Why We Must #ShareNiger - Fatimata's Story

Fatimata Ali, aged 14, lives in Koma Bangou, West Niger with her Grandmother Amsata Issa, 65. They belong to the Felani tribe - pastoralists to whom owning cattle is very important.

Yet, in 2010, the family’s animals died during the food crisis; this has left them struggling to find sufficient food ever since.

Fatimata explains how this has affected her and her family: "We used to have 3 cows, 6 goats and 5 sheep but they all died two years ago. After they died we were forced to work in the goldmine as we don’t have enough food to eat.

"I always feel hungry, my stomach hurts and I have a headache."

The mines are their only hope of obtaining an income and buying food but the conditions are harsh and even life-threatening for the boys and men, who go deep underground, to mine for gold, sending silt up to the surface for processing.

Frequent shaft and tunnel collapses occur due to the unsafe working conditions and the work is physically demanding and extremely hard. But, in addition to the tough conditions underground, the women and girls who work at the surface, toil in desperate conditions; a barren and arid landscape, with temperatures that frequently soar to over forty degrees Celsius. Here, at the head of the mine, the women and girls sift the silt, working for hours on end, trying to find the gold.

Every single day Fatimata and her grandmother must collect and sift enormous amounts of silt. They crush and refine it in hope of finding the tiny flecks of gold.

Only so much can be done by hand and eye though and once the silt has been crushed and refined, it is bagged up and sold on to others who work at the mine. They will use water and chemicals to pan for the gold. The job that Fatimata and her Grandmother do is just one part of a long process of extracting the gold.

It is exhausting work; Fatimata says, "I’m very tired after spending the day working and often my arms ache. I wish that I didn’t have to come here and I would prefer to stay at home and be able to go to school.

"When we do have food I like to eat beans but my favourite is cake.

"After work if I’m not too tired I like to play babysitting with my friends. We’ll wrap up a flip flop and pretend it is a baby. We also really like to climb the trees.

"When we had animals the cows were my favourite, I used to really like drinking the milk. When I grow up I would like to get married to somebody who has animals. I would like to have ten cows and walk with them to the pasture."

Even though she is just 14, tragically, Fatimata has never been to school. Her Grandmother Amsata Issa, 65, says: "How can she go to school when we have no food."

This is just one example of the daily struggle that is the reality of life for Fatimata and so many other children in Niger.

We can help, please #ShareNiger.

#ShareNiger

I have had a break from blogging, mainly due to having chemotherapy and other treatment for cancer. I have been contemplating a return and right now seems to be very appropriate.


In West Africa at the moment a perfect storm is brewing. Recent low rainfall levels have led to crop failures and poor harvests; while, just as with everywhere else, the cost of food has risen. This is a familiar combination of events and one that has been seen many times before. These are the klaxon warning of an imminent famine.


This happened last year, in East Africa and unfortunately, despite the warning signs, money was not released until the klaxon had sounded loud and clear. Then we had those images that are horribly familiar to us, children with distended bellies, crying because of severe hunger, suffering the effects of malnutrition and dying.


BUT none of this is necessary. If we can act quickly enough, a huge humanitarian crisis can be prevented.


This is why we are asking everyone to #ShareNiger and join us in raising awareness and putting pressure on politicians and governments, to act NOW.


Please spread the word, #ShareNiger