Zali Adamou is a 90-year-old widow, mother of six and grandmother of 30.
She is a farmer in Tondikiwindi in Niger. When IR distributed emergency food aid in her village, Zali spoke to staff about her life and fears as she struggles to survive the famine.
Fighting Hunger
“I am an early riser. After the morning prayer, I go out into the bush to search for food - hanza (wild grain) and hassou (leaves). These wild plants are now becoming scarce because we are all relying on them.
I usually return home about five in the afternoon. I look for a stone or a mortar to mill the grains, remove the cover and dry the kernel. Then I boil the grain six times and throw away the bitter water. I give the boiled grains to each child using a ladle to measure out equal portions.
We are all starving because nobody harvested last year. Sometimes I go to the bush and come back empty-handed which is a catastrophe. We are hungry, and it is the real hunger of the stomach.
I can barely see my sight is so weakened. A famine affects everyone, whether you are poor or a prince. I have no means to face this famine. I have no food, livestock, nothing. I only have God.
Better Times
Before the famine life was sweet. There was food, livestock and water.
If the famine continues, we will all die. Since the last harvest, we have nothing to eat. The famine is strong and it is always on our minds.
Emergency Aid
Islamic Relief saved our lives the day the food was distributed. Without that aid some of our people might have died. Others might have been forced to steal out of desperation.
Fortunately, God is good. He does not close all paths to His faithful. I thank Islamic Relief for thinking about us in these difficult times.