Journalists, policy experts, bloggers discuss hunger situation in Africa's Sahel

"Journalists, policy experts, bloggers (including myself) and World Food Programme staff joined in a robust discussion last week about the current hunger situation in Africa's Sahel region, including its causes and what can be done moving forward," Jennifer James, founder of Mom Bloggers for Social Good, writes in this post in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Impatient Optimists" blog, noting, "In the Google+ hangout, streamed on YouTube, Denise Brown, the World Food Programme's country director for Niger, logged on from the capital, Niamey, to report precisely what is happening in the region and how people are faring in the wake of no rains, failed crops, and increased food prices." She continues, "One of the primary points that Brown emphasized was about early warning systems and data propelled early intervention," and concludes, "The state of the hunger crisis in the Sahel dictates that aid must happen now. But those who are working in the region, like Brown, understand that to prevent another food shortage next year ideas to combat another hunger season have to be employed" (6/8).