A ‘Perfect Storm’ of Hunger

[babylonsister]

A ‘Perfect Storm’ of Hunger
The U.N.’s World Food Program is struggling as costs of food and fuel skyrocket while the numbers of people needing help surge across the globe. Millions are in danger.
by Edmund Sanders and Tracy Wilkinson


KHARTOUM, SUDAN - For 15 years, he’s been a “grocer” for Africa’s destitute. But he’s never seen anything like this.

Pascal Joannes’ job is to find grains, beans and oils to fill a food basket for Sudan’s neediest people, from Darfur refugees to schoolchildren in the barren south.



Lately Joannes has spent less time shopping and more time poring over commodity price lists, usually in disbelief.

“White beans at $1,160,” the white-haired Belgian, 52, cries in despair over the price of a metric ton. “Complete madness! I bought them two years ago in Ethiopia for $235.”

Joannes is head of procurement in Sudan for the World Food Program, the United Nations agency in charge of alleviating world hunger.

Meteoric food and fuel prices, a slumping dollar, the demand for biofuels and a string of poor harvests have combined to abruptly multiply WFP’s operating costs, even as needs increase. In other words, if the number of needy people stayed constant, it would take much more money to feed them. But the number of people needing help is surging dramatically. It is what WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran calls “a perfect storm” hitting the world’s hungry.

more...

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/01/8017/

[Lorien]

1. Another MAJOR reason why biofuels ARE NOT the answer

This article needs to be sent to the Obama and HRC camps. Solar, wind, geothermal and other newer and much GREENER technologies will not only save all mankind from it's own destruction, but immediately help millions of starving people like the ones above by lowering food prices. If it really would take only 100 square miles of solar panels to power the entire US then let's get out to the salt flats and GET ON IT! ENOUGH with appeasing the fossil fuel oil barons, already!

[BigDaddy44]

2. I heartily agree

Shouldn't food be used to feed mouths and not to feed.........gas tanks?

[The Stranger]

3. But the Neocons want to do away with the UN.

They are doing everything they can to do away with it.

[Lorien]

4. Ultimately they want to do away with every human being on the planet who

is not a "good consumer".