Millions raised to rescue Africa's Niger river

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

NIAMEY (AFP) — International donors have pledged almost one billion euros to save Africa's Niger river, which runs across 4,200-kilometres (2,600-miles), a source said Tuesday.

At a donors conference in the Niger capital, Niamey, about 907 million euros (1.4 billion dollars) was raised with pledges from the World Bank (500 million euros), France (250 million) and the Islamic Development Bank (100 million) comprising the lion's share.

The West African Development Bank, the European Union, the United Nations' culture agency UNESCO, Germany, Canada and West Africa's Economic and Monetary Union are the other main donors.

The money will allow the Niger Basin Authority (ABN), an intergovernmental body grouping the countries irrigated by Africa's third-longest...