UN warning over continuing global food price rise
Rising prices of wheat are causing problems worldwide
Thursday, 06, Mar 2008 06:00
The head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a warning that the cost of basic foods will continue to rise worldwide until 2010.
Josette Sheeran made the claims today, blaming rising energy and grain prices, the effects of climate change and biofuels for the increase in food costs.
Ms Sheeran said that the WFP would require an extra $375 million (£187 million) for global food projects and $125 million (£93 million) to transport the aid.
"The assessment is that we are facing high prices at least for the next couple of years," she said, as well as claiming world food reserves were at their lowest level for 30 years.
WFP also confirmed today that it was distributing emergency food aid to Afghanistan.
The aid was required, the UN said, because of the surge in wheat prices, which has risen by 70 per cent in the last year alone.
"Between now and mid-year, WFP aims to reach 2.5 million people in both urban and rural areas in Afghanistan," country director Rick Corsino said.
The aid will be distributed from this week and will involve wheat being handed to around 650,000 people in and around the country's capital of Kabul.