The head of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Monday called on donors to respond to the agency’s appeal for additional funds to deliver lifesaving assistance, writes UN News Service.
WFP warns that the global surge in food prices could lead to further tensions such as those witnessed recently in Haiti and other countries.
– A new face of hunger is emerging: even where food is available on the shelves, there are now more and more people who simply cannot afford it, said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran.
Following the deaths of four people in two days of rioting last week over rising food prices, WFP has called on donors once again to urgently support its operations in Haiti, which has been particularly vulnerable to the spike in costs.
The prices of food and fuel have increased by an estimated 55 per cent since last June.
In addition to Haiti, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Indonesia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Mozambique and Senegal have also experienced unrest in recent weeks related to soaring food and fuel prices.
Kilde: www.un.org
