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Leaders Pledge Billions to Sahel Region

Leaders Pledge Billions to Sahel Region

The Sahel region has long been plagued with harsh climate, poverty, hunger, political instability, crime and lack of opportunity.

During a United Nations-led visit to the area Monday, the World Bank Group pledged $1.5 billion of aid over the next two years, while the European Union pledged $6.75 billion over the next seven years, according to a report on All Africa.

“For too long, the people of the Sahel, especially women, have struggled with the devastating impact of too little economic growth and opportunity, a harsh climate, hunger, high fertility rates and the world’s highest number of maternal and child deaths… our hope is this funding helps build a new path for economic growth in the region” said Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank Group.

The Sahel region includes Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. The region has suffered three major droughts in the past decade, fueling crises of hunger, poverty and crime.

The pledges will improve infrastructure and create opportunities in rural areas. Plans include creating hydropower and other clean energy sources, expanding irrigation and improving agricultural methods.

Protecting and expanding herding is a priority for the 80-million-plus people who rely on it for food and livelihood, as is improving communication between countries and increasing health care services for women and girls. Sahel has one of the highest rates of mother and infant mortality in the world.

“The challenges in the Sahel respect no borders – neither should our solutions. The cycle of crises can be broken,” said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “By working together and investing in governance, security, resilience and opportunity for women and young people, we can help the Sahel move from fragility to sustainability,” he said. “Fighting fires in the Sahel remains crucial, but we also need to clear away problems that ignite conflict and instability.”