World Hunger eclipsed for attention by rich world financial crisis on World Food Day by Jacques Diouf 8:09am 18th Oct, 2008   Rome. October 16, 2008    The world"s leading organizations working to address hunger voiced frustration on World Food Day, that the global financial crisis had overshadowed a food crisis tipping millions towards starvation.    The World Bank predicts that high food and fuel prices will increase the number of malnourished people in the world to nearly one billon people (another 2 billion people live on less than $2 a day). Economists have also warned that the world"s poor would be the most vulnerable to a global economic downturn.    "The media have highlighted the financial crisis at the expense of the food crisis," said Jacques Diouf, head of the U.N."s Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome.    Many proponents of more urgent measures questioned why the world"s richest nations could not show the same urgency to save people from starvation as they did when rushing to rescue banks.    "My position is that the financial crisis is a serious one, and deserves urgent attention and focus, but so is the question of hunger, and millions are likely to die. Is that any less urgent?," asked former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.    Pope Benedict said the blame for hunger could be directed at "boundless speculation" in markets, partly blamed for high food and fuel prices. But he also pointed to "selfishness" by the world"s rich and a poor distribution of resources.    One Senegal-based NGO said the fading attention to the food crisis showed a "problem of justice, of equity and solidarity."    "If they are able to raise funds for the banking system, they can also find ways to reduce poverty in the world," Vore Gana Seck, President of Dakar-based CONGAD (Council of NGOs Supporting Development) told Reuters in the Senegalese capital. "I think it"s a problem of priority."    Prices of wheat, rice, maize and other staples in the developing world have all risen dramatically this year, although they have fallen from their peaks in recent months.    In Somalia, wheat prices have risen by 300 percent in the 15 months to April. Maize prices in southern Africa have risen by anywhere between 40 and 65 percent, crippling the ability of the poor to feed themselves, said aid group Oxfam.    "It is shocking that the international community has failed to organise itself to respond adequately" to the food and energy crisis, said Barbara Stocking, the head of Oxfam. "We need to see one coordinated international response, led by the United Nations, which channels funds urgently to those in need, and leads on implementation of the longer-term reforms."    Jacques Diouf said the world has the know-how to end hunger. But he said that his U.N. agency lacked resources and said that it only received 10 percent of the $22 billion (12.8 million pounds) pledged in June, following food riots in over 35 the countries.    "We have a serious shortfall in the financial resources needed to fulfill the expectations," Diouf said. "In spite of the passionate speeches and financial commitments made by many countries, only a tiny proportion of what was promised in June has been delivered."    It is clear that the impact of high food prices in developing countries - especially low-income, food importing countries is of serious concern. This is more so when the poor spend up to 80 per cent of their meagre income on food. Farmers also suffer. International prices of fertilizers have doubled in one year.    Urgent action is needed on two fronts - making food accessible to the most vulnerable, and helping small producers raise their output and earn more.    As early as July last year, FAO warned of the impending crisis, and in December, it launched an initiative to boost food production in the short term. Known as the ISFP - the Initiative on Soaring Food Prices - it had simple but effective goals: distribute seeds, fertilizer, animal feed and other farming tools and supplies to smallholder farmers.    This has to be done quickly before the next planting seasons so farmers get a better harvest this year and more food is available in the local markets.    Part of the initiative is advising governments on policy measures in response to the crisis. The FAO Country Guidelines provides an overview of different policy responses to higher food prices, their possible effects, advantages and disadvantages.    FAO is currently engaged in 81 countries, in most cases supporting food production with the supply of improved seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural inputs for the summer and fall planting seasons. Some countries have requested technical assistance, including reviews and analysis.    Recent funding support of just US$100 is only a fraction of the $US1.7 billion FAO estimates is necessary to support countries in the immediate emergency phase through the end of 2009. Visit the related web page
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