Robert Piper: A new approach needed for the Sahel

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel, Robert Piper, has called on governments and international organizations to adopt a new way of supporting people in the Sahel region of West and Central Africa. "'Business as usual' doesn't cut it," he said. "We're going to have a very large caseload of people every year unless we change our approach," he said.

For more go to http://www.unocha.org/crisis/sahel
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850,000 children treated in Sahel for severe acute malnutrition in 2012

By UNICEF West & Central Africa

A UNICEF progress report says that more than 850,000 children are expected to have received life-saving treatment for severe acute malnutrition across nine countries in the Sahel region during the course of 2012.

This is a projected figure based on the more than 730,000 children under 5 treated at centres between January and the end of September.

UNICEF warned in December 2011 that 1.1 million children would suffer from severe acute malnutrition in the Sahel and would need specialized help. With governments, other UN agencies and humanitarian organizations one of the biggest humanitarian efforts of its kind in the region was mounted with support from major donors and funding appeals through UNICEF National Committees.