Niger malnutrition crisis spreading - Save the Children Published duration 17 May 2012

image copyright AP image caption A rising number of children now need medical treatment in Niger, the charity warns

Months of warnings have failed to prevent a serious malnutrition crisis in Niger, Save the Children has said.

The charity says more than six million people are affected there, and about 18 million across West Africa.

It says a rising number of children now need medical treatment for the condition, as the crisis is reaching a new level of seriousness.

Save the Children's warning comes as this weekend's G8 meeting is expected to discuss food security.

The charity says it is now moving to an emergency response.

Alarm bells have been ringing about Niger - with its record of severe food crises - since late last year after erratic rainfall threatened crop shortages and food prices also soared, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge says.

Aid organisations have been trying to mitigate the impact.

media caption Justin Forsyth: Food crisis in Niger has reached "tipping point"

Overall, 25% of the world's children are suffering from chronic malnutrition - over and above the current food emergencies in Africa, Save the Children says.