Washington — Over the past 50 years, Niger-a mineral-rich, low-income country on the southern edge of the Sahara desert-has faced extended periods of drought, frequent food shortages, and some of the most difficult human development challenges in the world.
"It takes extreme drought to make headlines, but the reality is that nearly a quarter of the population of Niger faces chronic food insecurity in any given year," said Ousmane Diagana, World Bank Country Director for Niger. "Poverty and hunger are part of the landscape here during years of normal harvest, and things simply get worse with harsh climate or other shocks."
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