Mali contends with new Tuareg rebellion as food crisis looms

In 2011, late rains, dry spells and low river levels led to a 25% decrease in crop production in Mali, and a 50-60% rise in food prices above the five-year average. As a result, according to the World Food Programme (WFP), around 3 million people in the country are now at risk of food insecurity. Action Against Hunger predicts that by springtime, 175,000 children in Mali could be suffering from acute malnutrition.