Floods in Azel, Niger. Lives at the edge.

When good news is hard to hold on to. Whenever I find myself in a challenging personal situation I find it’s someone else’s needs or story often more compelling than my own. People lead such hard lives against such odds.

Its not been long since many of you helped me raise funds for the village of Azel, Niger for a new bore well.

Soon after that triumph Mohamed Ahnou my friend and elder in the village was bitten by a deadly scorpion and it was a fight for his life. After several hospital transfers and life saving treatments I managed to help him personally - it was just necessary. Am still helping him with medicines that are ongoing and I must in the light of a new disaster appeal to your good natures and generosity once again. Am sorry I even have to.

There have been devastating floods in Niger. Livestock, homes, food all washed away. It’s not main stream news but if you look it up you will see some of the footage- unprecedented torrential rain. So whilst combatting the loss of lives as they know it, children and others are coming down with malaria and falling sick.

About a decade ago we raised money for nets but nets don’t last for years as we know and the immediate need is for about 290 mosquito nets. This will cost about £340-00 - along with this I thought it would be helpful to try and raise money to buy an ambulance van for the village if possible which is between £1300-1500 which is also necessary.

Of course the nets take precedence.

And food at the moment. With the little they had washed away, the situation is grave.

As ever, this village of Azel is a village of Tuaregs who if you recall are severely marginalised in the tribal hierarchy of Niger.

Sadly Mouhamed has not been able to travel since Covid selling the silver ware from his people and the area is a security hazard for NGO’s to operate in- I have tried to reach out to no avail.

So in order to help, I must once again ask if you please could extend your generosity so we can attempt to try and help.

The messages and photographs from Mouhamed Ahnou are heartbreaking.

I am truly sorry I must reach out again. But try I must. It’s what he always says to me. Shernaz please try. And so I do.