From a region riven with drought, where millions of lives are in danger, ITV News has witnessed the fight for survival of skeletal children that have been weakened by starvation.
The crisis in western Africa is the result of another failure of the rains and political instability which is affecting the aid effort.
The lives of more than 18 million people in seven countries in the Sahel region of West Africa are now at risk. Niger is one of the worst affected - nearly 2 million people are starving, or close to it.
Now, thousands of kilometres away in the glittering hotels along the coast of Rio, politicians are holed up at the Rio+20 UN conference on the environment. They will be trying to secure a better future for the generations to come.
Watch the video attached to this article for ITV's report from the village of Tibiri in Niger where aid agencies say a long term plan and not quick fixes are needed.
His report contains images that some viewers may find distressing.
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