Food distribution in West Africa
- Duration
- 17 July 1973 - 21 September 1973
- Military personnel
- 11
- Fatalities
- none
- Decorations
- none
In the years prior to the summer of 1973, there had been virtually no rainfall in West Africa. The severe drought brought famine to the countries of Mali, Niger, Chad, Senegal, Mauritania and Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) and many thousands of people died of malnutrition.
International assistance
The UN’s food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warned that the number of casualties would rise into the millions unless swift action was taken. Many international organisations rushed to West Africa’s aid. The Dutch government also decided to join the aid effort and sent an air force transport detachment, already on standby, to West Africa.