24 January 2012: The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Olivier De Schutter has warned that drought, poor harvests and rising food prices pose an imminent threat to the countries of the Sahel region, and he called for an immediate international response.

De Schutter noted that the emerging crisis is a result of both natural causes and a lack of prevention. In 2011 several areas of the Sahel were affected by irregular rains, as well as an early end to rains. He stressed the need for preventive measures such as pre-positioning of food aid, and further local investment in climate-resilient agriculture such as agroforestry and diversified crop systems. He noted that some counties in the region have already declared an emergency and that short-term emergency assistance must be combined with actions to tackle the underlying causes of food insecurity. [UN Human Rights Press Release] [UN Press Release]