143 families were helped recently by grain aid distribution in Gorom-Gorom.

The grain was provided by APT, and was distributed from the Oudalan Ministry Centre.

Each year, the period around May-July is really difficult for people in the north of Burkina Faso. They call it the "welding time", when last year's store is empty, and the rains have not yet begun, which will bring grass for the animals, and wild grain. People are trying to find ways to fill the gap between the end of one year and the start of the next.

It is a time when we try to do some targetted grain distribution, to help the poorest families, either with subsidised grain, or free distribution, depending on the need and on what we have available, to try and help them make ends meet. People work hard in their fields, but increasingly erratic and extreme rains over recent years have rarely left them with enough food for the whole year.

This year, we didn't have much to give, and it was just a fraction of the real need, but Pierre, Seydou, and Pascal, with help from some other friends and neighbours (above) identified some needy families in the town, to help where they could.

The good news is that the rains have now started, and people are off to the fields to plant, and are praying that this year's harvest will be better.