Amid surging food prices, child malnutrition, violent unrest and the prospect of prolonged food shortages, one of the world's largest humanitarian organizations has announced a potential 1.5 million drop in the number of people receiving its food assistance.
World Vision, whose work includes providing nearly 450,000 metric tons of food in some 30 countries, cites the soaring cost of food and unmet donor-nation aid commitments for a potential 23 percent decrease in the number of people it is able to supply with food aid this year.
The Christian humanitarian agency's field staff reports that the spike in food prices, along with other factors, is deepening the hunger crisis for children and families in developing nations:
"Families in Bangladesh are still recovering from last fall's devastating Cyclone Sidr. Seven-year-old Supria's family lost their entire harvest in the cyclone; now her father struggles to find paid work. Without food assistance, it would be difficult for families like Supria's to find daily food," says James East, World Vision communications director for Asia-Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand.
A lack of available funds from donor nations, combined with rising prices, has caused some regular food delivery channels to dry up, preventing the launch of new food aid projects where they are needed.
World Vision therefore calls on donor governments to increase resources in order to fund the World Food Program's $755 million shortfall.
It also urges leaders of the world's leading industrialized nations to make the issue a priority at the upcoming G8 conference.
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