The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, is on a visit to the west African state of Niger where international aid agencies have been taking part in a major famine relief effort.
Speaking in Niger’s second city, Zinder, as he met President Mamadou Tandja, Mr Annan said: 'I have come here to see for myself what is happening and to discuss with the president and the prime minister what we can do all together in the medium and long-term'.
On the eve of the visit, the humanitarian organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres criticised the UN, saying supplies bound for Niger were not making it to those who need it most.
MSF said 'neither in quantity or quality, was the UN responding to the gravity of this epidemic of desperate malnutrition' and food distribution 'was not helping priority victims such as children under five years of age in the most ravaged areas'.
The UN has estimated that more than two and a half million people in Niger are in a vulnerable situation because of food shortages.
Mr Annan is due to hold talks in the capital of Niger, Niamey, with President Tandja and representatives of various UN agencies tomorrow.
