Thousands of children in the west African nation of Niger are suffering from severe malnutrition and lack of clean water.
ChristianToday.com cites a report from the World Food Prgram, which states that 44 percent of children in Niger suffer from malnutritition.
Christian relief organization World Vision is helping families in Niger communities get access to enough food and clean water.
Faiycal is one such boy living in Niger suffering from malnutrition. He shared his heartbreaking story:
“The pain was so intense that I was afraid I would die,” he saaid, speaking of the many years he struggled with sickness and malnutrition. “I would throw myself on the ground and cry non-stop, that’s how difficult it was for me to deal with my body’s aches.”
Now, however, with World Vision’s help, Faiycal and his family have a farm where they can grow food and Faiycal is well enough to go to school.
“When I get home, I often eat the crops that my mother has farmed. We have onions, maize, tomatoes and peanuts that we have grown with the seeds that we received. We also have a borehole with clean water, so I’m not afraid of getting ill either,” he said.
Faiycal still bears the marks of malnutrition, however. He is 14 years old, but looks much younger and his growth has been stunted.
Niger is a poor country and many men leave their families to look for work elsewhere. Although organizations such as World Vision have helped many families and communities, many more children are still in need of help.