Niger : a country profile

Some three-fourths of the country"s land area is now desert. This report provides baseline data to support the planning and analysis of relief operations of A.I.D."s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. After briefly summarizing general information on the country, the report provides an overview of Niger"s physical environment. Natural resources are relatively abundant, especially uranium, for which the country is the fourth largest producer in the world. Thus far, though, few resources have been exploited because of difficult environmental problems and prohibitive costs. Population pressures have created shortages in housing, medical care, food, energy, and other basic needs, as well as related problems such as an increase in fires and epidemic diseases. A review of Niger disaster preparedness includes a description of the national cereals marketing organization and its nationwide network of warehouses and distribution centers, as well as overviews of health, sanitation, and transportation infrastructure. USAID/Niger"s disaster plan and resources are briefly described, and a listing of international disaster relief organizations is presented.