/ 18 April 2008

UN needs $256m more to cope with rising food prices

The United Nations agency charged with relieving world hunger on Friday made an appeal for $256-million more in funds to cope with sharp rises in food prices.

The World Food Programme (WFP) request came on top of another “extraordinary emergency appeal” of $500-million made by the agency in March to top up its 2008 budget.

The agency has estimated that food prices have risen 55% since June 2007. These costs have had “an enormous impact on our operations”, said WFP spokesperson Christiane Berthiaume.

The WFP has already warned that it would have to cut rations if the necessary funds were not available.

Food prices have been spiralling higher globally due to rising populations, strong demand from developing countries, the use of certain foods in biofuels to combat global warming and the increasing frequency of floods and droughts as a result of climate change.

The WFP provides food for 73-million people in 78 countries. — AFP