The West African country of Niger has suffered a widespread drought that has lasted for years. <br /><br />According to UN figures, almost eight million people in the country, which is half of its population, are starving.<br /><br />Many residents say that the government is not doing enough to help deliver food aid. <br /><br />But Niger's government has said it is incapable of distributing enough food to its people and has made an urgent appeal the international community for assistance in doing so. <br /><br />Al Jazeera Alan Fisher reports from the town of Zantoram in central Niger to find out how people there are coping with the food shortages.<br /><br />[Auguest 2, 2010]
