World Food Programme Chief Warns Of Growing Crisis For World's Hungry

Main Category: Aid / Disasters
Article Date: 18 Sep 2009 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

In the week that marks the first anniversary of the global financial crisis, there are more hungry people in the world and less food aid than ever before. For the world's most vulnerable, the perfect storm is hitting with a vengeance.

The double whammy of the financial crisis and the still record high food prices around the world is delivering a devastating blow. Throw in a storm, a drought and a conflict and you have a recipe for disaster.

WFP's budget to feed 108 million people in 74 countries this year is US$6.7 billion. But today, we have just US$2.6 billion. Donors have been extremely generous, but the fact is that the cost of food is still high, needs have gone up and this requires the world to step up to the plate in a bigger way.

We are making an urgent plea to the world that as the green shoots of economic recovery are appearing, we do not forget those who are most in need, and who have been hit hardest by this crisis.

Today in the United States and much of Europe, more people are relying on government safety nets for food and support than perhaps ever before, but for 80 per cent of the world, there is perhaps no safety net.

We urgently need an additional US$3 billion to meet those needs, which is less than 0.01 per cent of what was put on the table to stabilise the world financially. We think this is critical for the world's peace and stability.

At our current funding levels, we will - in October - have to cut our services throughout the world, including to half of those we are trying to reach in Kenya. We will be reaching one-fifth of those we have been targeting due to the impact of high food prices in Bangladesh. In Somalia we will have to cut rations by half. Around the world, there are many more examples like this.

Hunger Facts:

The Challenge:

Today, there are more hungry people and less food aid than we have seen in decades.

The number of hungry people will pass 1 billion this year for the first time in history, but the flow of food aid is at a twenty year low.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is facing a serious budget shortfall with barely one-third of the funding it needs to feed 108 million people this year.

What it Means:

Ration reductions and cuts in programmes that provide a lifeline to the world's hungriest people.

In Kenya, where drought and high food prices have pushed almost 4 million into the hunger trap, WFP is preparing to reduce rations in October.

In Guatemala, WFP's vital programme providing nutritious food supplements to 100,000 children and 50,000 pregnant and lactating women, is hanging by a thread.

In Bangladesh WFP is reaching barely 1 million people out of a target 5 million who cannot afford to buy the food they need for their families.

What can be done:

WFP needs an extra US$3 Billion to bridge the gap in its budget this year.

Governments, private corporations and members of the public can all help WFP meet urgent hunger needs in places like Kenya, Guatemala and Bangladesh.

With the United Nations General Assembly and the G20 summit in Pittsburgh on the horizon, there is an ideal opportunity for world leaders to put hunger on the map.

Facts and Figures:

Number of hungry people in 2009: 1.02 Billion*
Number of people WFP aims to feed in 2009: 108 Million
WFP budget for 2009: US$6.7 Billion
Confirmed WFP funds (September 2009): US$2.6 Billion
Forecast WFP shortfall in 2009: US$3 Billion
* UN Food and Agriculture Organization

Total number of hungry people: UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Food Aid Flows: INTERFAIS (http://www.wfp.org/fais/)
% hungry people fed: Calculation based on WFP beneficiaries against
FAO figure for total number of hungry people

Source
World Food Programme

• Additional
• References
• Citations