Somalia faces a serious food crisis if no nation steps forward with naval ships to escort relief shipments through pirate-infested waters.

The World Food Programme says food cuts in Darfur are a forced necessity.

The world food crisis is a tragedy frequently and passionately foretold. For years food experts warned that chronic under-investment in agriculture in developing countries, by governments and donors alike, would one day spell disaster.

The United States ambassador to Zimbabwe accused President Robert Mugabe's government on Friday of illegally using food aid as a weapon.

In the richest nation on Earth, a rising number of people line up for free food because they are struggling to put meals on the table at home.