UN REPORT WARNS OF ENORMOUS NUMBERS FACING FOOD INSECURITY DESPITE ABUNDANT CROP

UN REPORT WARNS OF ENORMOUS NUMBERS FACING FOOD INSECURITY DESPITE ABUNDANT CROP
New York, Dec 18 2008 6:10PM
Despite record breaking bumper cereal harvests for 2008, some one billion people around the world are malnourished, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO) announced today.

Wheat and rice production set a new record this year at over 2 billion tons, which is more than a 5 per cent rise over 2007, with most of the increase achieved in richer nations and the developing world making a marginal contribution.

Although international cereal prices have dropped over recent months – wheat and coarse grains averaged 40 per cent and 20 per cent less than in December last year – food prices remain high in developing countries. In Afghanistan, Eritrea and Ethiopia prices of food staples are at least twice as high as a last year.

FAO's Crop Prospects and Food Situation report warns that some 33 countries around the world are in need of external food assistance as a result of crop failures, conflict or insecurity and high domestic food prices.

In Zimbabwe, where the number of food insecure is around 5 million, a recent outbreak of cholera poses an additional threat to health and nutrition of the vulnerable population, and in the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea (DPRK), almost 9 million people, or around 40 per cent of the population, urgently need food assistance.
Dec 18 2008 6:10PM
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