Chad, Darfur and Sudan. Strangely, Mauritania and Mali were not on the list of dangerous nations, despite several al-Qaeda lead kidnappings in both during 2009. List of events January 11 January saw an emerging famine situation in south eastern Sudan according to the UN, NGOs, the EU and various Charities. The government of Niger says 7,800,000 risk starvation in 2010 as heavy drought and high heat hit Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and northern Nigeria on both 27 and 28 January and was estimated to need about $220,000,000 million this year in food and agricultural aid. The EU's ECHO aid department said of signs of food shortages were in Niger and spreading to neighbours such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and northern Nigeria as 15,000,000 are estimated to face a chronic food shortage in Niger. The EU and UN also put out a famine alert for Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and northern Nigeria and began to appeal for aid on the 28th. The EU, China and Russia stopped giving Niger aid in 2009 after President Mamadou Tandja defied UN, EU and worldwide criticism over extending his term in office. February The UN, NGOs and charities warned of heavy food insecurity in Southern Sudan throughout February due to an emerging famine and the ongoing conflict between Misseriya nomad in the Southern Kordofan department. The rainfall was reported at an all-time low in Mauritania and neighbouring parts of Senegal during most of February and early March. The EU warns of a pending Sahel famine centered upon Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad on 1 February. March Human Rights Watch said that Al Qaeda should stop targeting African civilians and aid workers on 16 March. A drought was confirmed to have hit parts of Burkina Faso on 10 March, by USAID and the UN. On 13 March 2010 the UN, NGOs, the EU and various charities put out a famine alert for parts of southern Sudan. On 15 March 2010 Britain's Save The Children charity launched an appeal as 840,000 Nigerians are confirmed to be in imminent risk of a famine. On 17 March 2010, a famine was declared in Mao in Chad's sand-swept Kanem region. On 23 March 2010, major sandstorms hit Mauritania, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea and inland Sierra Leone. Another hit southern Algeria, inland Mauritania, Mali and northern Côte d'Ivoire at the same time. April During April and