Facing starvation: Niger's children

Appoua, 36 months, being examined by a nurse at the stablisation clinic supported by Save the Children in Aguie, Niger. Appoua was admitted weighing just 7.4kg. These in-patient clinics are for extreme cases of malnutrition. Mothers staying in the clinics while their child is being treated are provided with food. As part of these programmes Save the Children carries out awareness-raising sessions targeted at mothers about good breastfeeding techniques, warning signs of malnutrition and general good health and hygiene. Save the Children supports five of these clinics in Niger. It is also implementing a Food Security Programme.
Photograph: Rachel Palmer/Save The Children

Faiza, 25, preparing seeds to plant in hope of a better harvest this year. Poor, erratic rainfall since last year in Niger has meant crops have failed on a grand scale and livestock have died. More than half the population have no food reserves left. If the humanitarian response isn't quick and substantial, 378,000 children under five are likely to suffer severe malnutrition and 1,200,000 moderate malnutrition.
Photograph: Rachel Palmer/Save The Children

Homa holding a bowl of 'hanza' a berry that is eaten when there's no other food available. Hanza can be toxic if not prepared in the correct way. Even if prepared properly it causes diarrhoea. Because of the poor and eratic rains this year more than half the population has no food stocks left.
Photograph: Rachel Palmer/Save The Children

Marcia, two, being measured for signs of malnutrition by community volunteer Zani Malaharou. Marcia wasn't referred to the therapeutic feeding programme. As part of Save the Children's programme to reduce malnutrition rates among children in Niger it trains community workers to identify and refer malnourished children in their areas to therapeutic feeding centres supported by Save the Children. The community volunteers go from village to village measuring children's height and middle upper arm circumference. This information indicates whether a child is malnourished and they can then be referred. The volunteers then follow up on the children after they ve been treated.
Photograph: Rachel Palmer/Save The Children

Mothers queue for their lunch while their babies are treated at the stablisisation clinic supported by Save the Children in Aiguie, Niger.
Photograph: Rachel Palmer/Save The Children

Nana with her five children at home, Chabar, Tessaoua, Niger.
Photograph: Rachel Palmer/Save The Children

Nana's empty millet store. Their crops failed this year because of the poor and eratic rain fall so Nana has struggled to buy food to feed her five children. She is now part of Save the Children's Food Security Programme that provides cash for training - approximately £25 per month for six months to tie her over until the next harvest.
Photograph: Rachel Palmer/Save The Children

Nurse Ali helps Mariama feed her daughter Salaha therapeutic milk. Salaha, 18 months, was brought to the Save the Children run stabilisation clinic in Aguie, Niger, two weeks ago. When she arrived she was at death's door, weighing only 2.8kg. After treatment she weighs 4kg and is on the road to recovery.
Photograph: Rachel Palmer/Save The Children

Two-year-old Rahila sleeps in a stablisisation clinic supported by Save the Children in Aiguie, Niger. Rahila was 5.2kg when she was admitted to the clinic. Three days later she had gained 0.2kg.
Photograph: Rachel Palmer/Save The Children

Saratou holding her son Badamassi, 18 months, as they wait to be weighed during their weekly check-up at the outpatient therapeutic programme in May Jirgui, Niger. Save the Children supports 86 outpatient therapeutic programmes for severely malnourished children in Niger. Severely malnourished children under five are given specially formulated micronutrient-enriched food, such as high-energy peanut paste, that's ready to use at home.

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Photograph: Rachel Palmer/Save The Children