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The Sahel Drought and Famine

From 1961 to 1990, several countries in the Sahel region of Africa experienced a significant decrease in rainfall. This transition zone between the Sahara Desert to the north and the tropical area to the south became even more arid, causing a sharp decline in agricultural production in this region. The large nomadic population, coupled with the overgrazing of animals, could not be sustained by the vegetation of the area. By 1974, over $350 in relief assistance had been provided by the international community. Nonetheless, 5 million head of livestock died due to the drought conditions. The situation was particularly devastating in that an estimated 300,000 people perished from the famine.