Aid agencies are warning that up to 15 million people across the Sahel Saharan region of Africa are at risk of famine unless hundreds of millions of euro in aid is sent urgently.
The food crisis is due to poor harvests and water shortages.
Recent evaluations suggest it could affect more than 15.5 million people.
Niger is one of the worst affected countries; of its 13 million-strong population, 60% live in poverty.
Doctors say large numbers of children are arriving at their clinics severely malnourished.
Read Ray Kennedy's reports:
A way of life under threat
''Tonight as we arrived in the Niger capital Niamey there was a warning that over five million in this vast country alone could be affected.
''Niger is ranked at the very bottom of UN scales for development and poverty. Beaten into last place by Congo.
''As we approached the capital’s airport, the land below is barren and dry, sand storms rise thousands of feet into the air to meet our aircraft. The desert seems to continue forever.'' Read more
Ancient Tuareg tribe fears for the future of their villages
''Her name was Souweba Oumarou, she was born one year ago in Niger. Unlike many babies born on planet Earth that day, she was born in Niger and was on the brink of death on a sunny warm morning in the town of Tahoua.
''She was born into a country at the very bottom of world rankings for infant mortality.
''Her mother, dazed with fear, had made a trek of 40km across harsh desert land to get her to a clinic where she might be saved.'' Read more
Rain people in Burkina Faso
''A tribal chief in Burkina Faso told me he 'could not give me the road' until he had spoken to me.
''It sounded quite serious, it wasn’t. He wanted to give words of thanks from his tribe for coming to visit them and tell their story.
''It was humbling as we were only there a few hours, they had to live in the burning sun and with the dry sand they once farmed. We were able to leave and file our reports about them.'' Read more
