2005 harvest, rendering millions reliant on food aid to survive. Although cereals were available in some markets, the shortages meant prices had risen well beyond the means of those hit hardest, jumping to around 210 CFA francs ($0.40) per kg of millet compared to an average 160 CFA over the past 5 years. As many as 350,000 children under five could be severely malnourished in Niger, according to a WFP nutrition survey from January, and the agency said "disturbing numbers" of frail young people had been arriving at its feeding centres. "More recent surveys by Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) corroborate these findings and point to a deteriorating situation typical of a war zone," WFP said. --More 2013 Local Time 1713 GMT
