Brussels, 17/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 17 January, Kristalina Georgieva, the European commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis response, arrived in Niger. This is her first port of call in a four-day mission to the Sahel region. She will be evaluating humanitarian needs with the authorities and the European Commission's current response to the crisis, as well as identifying the potential needs for further assistance to countries affected by the famine. After Niger, she will travel to Chad because these two countries in the region are those most threatened by major food shortages in the next few months. The commissioner warned that, “nobody should have to live in fear of famine yet within months people will begin to starve unless we act”. She added that, “this is the third time in a decade that this region has fallen into crisis. Every year we save more than 200,000 children from severe acute malnutrition but we must and will go further. I am here this week to make sure that we deliver smart aid, targeting the most vulnerable and delivered in the most cost-effective and efficient manner”. Most people in the Sahel are highly dependent on rain-fed agriculture and livestock for their survival but the September harvests were wiped out and the so-called “lean period” will begin next month instead of in June. Seven million people are already going hungry. Food prices have increased by 40% and certain forecasts consider that they will triple over the lean period. For around 22.9 million people, 2012 begins with great uncertainty regarding the possibility of feeding their respective families. Food production deficits are as high as 52% in comparison to last year while an estimated 1.3 million children in the region are currently suffering from acute severe malnutrition. The Commission has been working to mitigate future crises by establishing an innovative programme through its partners. This programme currently treats more than 200,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in the Sahel and is working to achieve a permanent and sustainable solution to the region's chronic food security problems. The Commission has provided more than €225 million since 2005. It has already allocated more than €100 million to fight the current famine. The Commissioner has explained that, “we are working closely with other agencies to build a comprehensive aid strategy to cover both the short and long-term actions required to make malnutrition history”. (AN/trans/fl)