View source for Sahel

===Recent droughts===
{{Further|Sahel drought}}
For hundreds of years, the Sahel region has experienced frequent droughts and [[megadrought]]s. One megadrought lasted from 1450 to 1700, 250 years.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Brahic|first=Catherine|title=Africa trapped in mega-drought cycle|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16967-africa-trapped-in-megadrought-cycle.html|magazine=New Scientist}}</ref> There was a major drought in the Sahel in 1914 caused by annual rains far below average, leading to large-scale famine. From 1951 to 2004, the Sahel experienced some of the most consistent and severe droughts in Africa.<ref>{{cite web|last=Scholl|first=Adam|title=Map Room: Hidden Waters|url=http://www.worldpolicy.org/journal/winter2012/map-room|publisher=World Policy Journal|access-date=17 December 2012|archive-date=30 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030012853/http://worldpolicy.org/2013/09/12/map-room-anonymous/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 1960s saw a large increase in rainfall in the region, making the northern drier region more accessible. There was a push, supported by governments, for people to move northwards. When the long drought period from 1968 through 1974 began, grazing quickly became unsustainable and large-scale denuding of the terrain followed. Like the drought in 1914, this led to a large-scale famine, but this time somewhat tempered by international visibility and an outpouring of aid. This catastrophe led to the founding of the [[International Fund for Agricultural Development]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}

====2010 drought====
{{Main|2010 Sahel famine}} 
Between June and August 2010, famine struck the Sahel.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.channel4.com/news/articles/world/africa/drought%2bthreatens%2bafrican%2bhumanitarian%2bcrisis/3697427.html|title=Drought threatens African humanitarian crisis|last=Miller|first=Jonathan|publisher=Channel 4 News|date=1 July 2010|access-date=3 February 2026}}</ref> Niger's crops failed to mature in the heat, 350,000 faced starvation, and 1,200,000 were at risk of famine.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/21/millions-face-starvation-west-africa|location=London|work=[[The Guardian]]|title=Millions face starvation in west Africa, warn aid agencies|first=Henry|last=Foy|date=21 June 2010|access-date=3 February 2026}}</ref> In Chad the temperature reached {{convert|47.6|°C|°F|1|abbr=on}} on 22 June in [[Faya-Largeau]], breaking a record set in 1961 at the same location. Niger tied its highest temperature record set in 1998, also on 22 June, at 47.1&nbsp;°C in [[Bilma]]. That record was broken the next day, when Bilma hit {{convert|48.2|°C|°F|1|abbr=on}}. The hottest temperature recorded in Sudan was reached on 25 June, at {{convert|49.6|°C|°F|1|abbr=on}} in [[Dongola]], breaking a record set in 1987.<ref name="MastersNOAA">{{cite web|last=Masters|first=Jeff|title=NOAA: June 2010 the globe's 4th consecutive warmest month on record|url=http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1544|work=Weather Underground|publisher=Jeff Masters' WonderBlog|access-date=21 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719104107/http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1544|archive-date=19 July 2010}}</ref> Niger reported on 14 July that [[diarrhoea]], starvation, [[gastroenteritis]], [[malnutrition]] and [[respiratory diseases]] had sickened or killed many children. The new [[military junta]] appealed for international food aid and took serious steps to call on overseas help.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20100625-reporters-niger-famine-horizon-harvests-sahara-junta-coup-appeal-international-aid-mamadou-tandja|title=Niger: famine on the horizon?|publisher=France 24|date=14 July 2010|access-date=25 October 2012}}</ref> On 26 July, the heat reached near-record levels over Chad and Niger,<ref name="underground.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1516|title=wonder Blog: Weather Underground|publisher=Wonder-ground.com|access-date=28 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627220406/http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1516|archive-date=27 June 2010}}</ref> and in northern Niger about 20 people reportedly died of dehydration by 27 July.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}