The head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the rise in basic food costs could continue until 2010, reports BBC online Thursday.
Josette Sheeran blamed soaring energy and grain prices, the effects of climate change and demand for biofuels. Miss Sheeran has already warned that the WFP is considering plans to ration food aid due to a shortage of funds.
Some food prices rose 40 per cent last year, and the WFP fears the worlds poorest will buy less food, less nutritious food or be forced to rely on aid.
Miss Sheeran said the agency needed an extra 375 million US dollar for food projects this year and 125 million to transport it.
The WFP-boss said global food reserves were at their lowest level in 30 years – with enough to cover the need for emergency deliveries for 53 days, compared with 169 days in 2007. She noted that demand for crops to produce biofuels is increasing prices for food stuffs such as palm oil.
The WFP says countries where price rises are expected to have a most direct impact include Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Haiti, Djibouti, the Gambia, Tajikistan, Togo, Chad, Benin, Burma, Cameroon, Niger, Senegal, Yemen and Cuba.
