The West African nation of Chad is on the verge of a famine, according to multiple international aid agencies.<br /><br />Drought, conflict and an influx of refugees have all contributed to a chronic food shortage that has affected about two million people - one fifth of the country's population.<br /><br />More than eight per cent of infants do not survive their first year because of malnutrition and about 20 per cent die before reaching the age of five.<br /><br />Aid groups have said the humanitarian crisis could assume catastrophic proportions if food relief from abroad does not come to the rescue soon.<br /><br />Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reports from N'Djamena, the capital of Chad.<br /><br />[May 1, 2010]
