A solidarity project implemented by the Red Cross bears fruit in Africa

The food security programme conducted in Burkina Faso since late 2013 brings new hope to the populations of a Sahelian region.

It is with immense joy that the Monegasque Red Cross would like to share these pictures with you from the Sahelian province of Soum in Burkina Faso. In 2012, following a long period of drought and soaring food prices, the village was severely affected by the worst food crisis encountered over the last ten years in Burkina Faso. This situation led the Burkina Faso Red Cross to make it one of its priorities.

Thanks to the financial and technical support of the Monegasque Red Cross, in October 2013 Dabré Moro, a rural development engineer working for the Burkina Faso Red Cross, together with his team initiated the activities of the project “resilience and food security” scheduled to last 3 years. Thanks to efficient work and dynamic volunteers, the beneficiaries have wholly taken on board the project and the initial results can be clearly seen today :

• Five main areas of intervention: market gardening, rain-fed cultivation, animal husbandry, awareness and structural support. These activities are implemented in cooperation with the local authorities and other programmes conducted on site;
• 470 families comprising 8 on average, 20 women’s groups, 6 schools and 2 communal facilities benefit from the various activities.

All the above played an active role in the project and are now harvesting high quality vegetables which will enable them to provide for themselves during the dry season thanks to the consumption and sale of the produce. Take a look at the first video of the project on Youtube.

Via this project the two national Red Cross societies have demonstrated the full scope of Humanity’s power, its most fundamental principle.

However the inhabitants of this region, who are currently experiencing the most difficult days of the dry season with temperatures continuously reaching over 40°C, face a crucial challenge: to have enough water to irrigate their crops and water their cattle. Irrigation wells could significantly improve the results of the project.

Are you affected by this project? To take part, contact the international team at the Monegasque Red Cross :

inter@croix-rouge.mc
Tel. : +377 97 97 68 05