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Niger

2 Stories - 34 Images - 2 Contributors
Niger is a Sub-Saharan country, one of the poorest in the world, ranked constantly near last on the The United Nations Human Development Index. Apart from corruption, common life in Niger means subsistence crops,countinuous desertification and drought cycles common to the Sahel region of Africa. On the other hand, Niger is one of the world's largest uranium producers. The largest ethnic groups in Niger are the Hausa and the Djerma-Songhai.They live as farmers.The government favors members from the Djerma-Songhai group. The rest of Nigeriens are nomadic or semi-nomadic livestock herders from the group of Fulani and berber Tuareg. Their subsistent way of life is more fragile and increasingly threatened. 63% of Niger people live with less than 1$ per day. The risk of contacting major infectious disease is very high. Niger is ranked among the first at birth rate, infant mortality rate and death rate as well.

Society

Niger: one of the poorest countries in the world

Series about daily life in a Sub-Saharan country, Niger, one of the poorest in the world. Niger is constantly ranked low in the UN Human Development...

by fotojurnal in Niger on 07/12/2006

A large part of Niger is often struck by droughts and therefore bad harvests. Like in many countries in this region the months before the next period is quite tough because food reserves are almost finished and people rely on small daily rations. Especially children are vulnerable during this 'hunger gap' and risk to become malnourished. Villagers do have coping mechanisms (eating tough leaves or fruits), stocks of seed that can be used by the whole community... But if they face droughts during consequent years, these often fail. They will then rely on food that is for sale on the market. To get money they will sell the few belongings they have. Local communities are sometimes obliged to organize their own education system. Everyone contributes in time, materials and some money, so they can construct a shelter and pay the wage of the teacher. Religion is often a mixture of traditional beliefs and islam, personalized by the marabout who can be a combination of a preacher, islam teacher, healer... traveling from village to village. The most arid and barren areas face fierce winds and sand storms, making travel, mostly by foot or by donkey, quite a challenge. Also water is often hard to come by. If there's no pond nearby, people dig pits by hand up to 70 meters deep or more before they reach a water table. To pull the water out, they need all hands they can get. Or a few donkeys... The images show people fetching water at pond or well, travelling in a sand storm, women on the way to a funeral in another village, grain storages, hand dug wells, children playing, a marabout at the men's gathering, a rural school...

Society

Niger daily life

This series focuses on the challenges posed by water scarcity to the local communities of Niger in the provinces of Tilabery, Zinder, and Tanaout....

by passer in Niger on 29/04/2005

07/12/2006 - Niger: one of the poorest countries in the world - Niger - Series about daily life in a Sub-...

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Niger: one of the poorest countries in the world

Society

Niger: one of the poorest countries in the world

Series about daily life in a Sub-Saharan country, Niger, one of the poorest in the world. Niger is constantly ranked low in the UN Human Development Index. Niger, Africa, 07/12/2006
by fotojurnal, on 7th of December 2006
Niger daily life

Society

Niger daily life

This series focuses on the challenges posed by water scarcity to the local communities of Niger in the provinces of Tilabery, Zinder, and Tanaout. Niger, 29.04.05.
by passer, on 29th of April 2005

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