UN/World Food Programme

Dangerous food shortage as aid donations shrink

Article published on the 2009-07-30 Latest update 2009-07-30 12:21 TU

A child next to free food aid bags in the village of Doukoukoune, near Maradi, central Niger.
(Photo: AFP)

Despite soaring hunger made worse by the global economic crisis, the United Nations food aid agency says it is being forced to cut programmes because pledged donations have not materialised. The World Food Programme (WFP) says its 2009 budget of approved needs is 4.7 billion euros, but after government consultations, it expects donations of just 2.6 billion.

The agency's Executive Director, Josette Sheeran, warned the WFP faces a dangerous shortfall in emergency funding. Speaking in Washington, where she met with officials from the United States and World Bank, as well as lawmakers, Sheeran says the agency is actively reducing rations and programmes throughout the world.

"This is mainly due to the fact that the needs which were greatly increased last year due to the food crisis have not come down,," she said. "In fact they have increased, just as we're seeing the numbers of hungry increase."

Those living on a dollar a day can only afford to buy about a third of the food they were able to buy a few years ago, Sheeran said. For the first time in history, she added, 1.02 billion people are undernourished worldwide, up from 60 million just two years ago.

Last year, the agency's needs doubled as food prices spiked, sparking riots in more than 30 countries, the overthrow of the Haitian government, and unrest in Italy over pasta prices.

The United States is leading the way in aid relief, says Sheeran, praising Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her leadership in finding solutions for the long-term, but to meet emergency needs.