A majority in parliament wants Development Cooperation Minister Ben Knapen to earmark additional aid for the Sahel region, where millions of people are facing starvation.

The request comes after the cabinet donated four million euros’ worth of emergency aid to the region earlier this year.

Christian Union leader Joël Voordewind said: “Already millions of people, including one million children, do not have enough to eat. We must provide assistance now, because the coming months will see growing shortages of food and water as the result of the ongoing drought.”

NGO Oxfam Novib says 18 million people in the Sahel region are currently facing starvation and the current crisis could grow into a humanitarian disaster in the coming months.

The United Nations reported earlier that six million people in Niger, North Senegal, Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauretania are suffering from malnutrition.

In addition to the Christian Union, the Christian democrat CDA, the Labour Party, Green Left, the democrat D66 party, the orthodox SGP and the Animal Rights Party are all supporting the request for additional aid.

(gsh/imm)

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