IRREGULAR rains in Niger are threatening nearly two million people with famine and thousands have been left homeless by flooding in some regions of the usually arid African country. Nearly 1.8 million people – over 10% of the population – have been at risk of famine since August due to either a lack or an excess of rain, official figures show. Since the start of the June-September rainy season, at least 13 000 people have lost their homes to flooding which has also destroyed hundreds of grain stores, officials said. Floods caused by heavy rains in early August left at least 5 000 people homeless in the Boboye area, 80km east of the capital Niamey. Fields were also inundated and livestock drowned. Other regions have suffered from drought, and last week people across the mainly Muslim country held joint prayers for rain. People in some areas have taken to scouring termite hills in search of grain. – Reuters