THE United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) appealed on Wednesday for donor support for a $5-mllion emergency operation to help 200_000 people affected by malnutrition in Niger, where insufficient rains have led to poor harvests. Over 4_000 of the country’s 10_094 villages have food deficits of over 50%, WFP reported. More than one-third of Niger’s 10-million inhabitants are affected by the shortages, which have forced thousands of people to leave their villages in search of food. The WFP operation aims to encourage families to stay in their villages and focus on whatever crop production is possible under the circumstances. – IRIN