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UN pleased as World Food Programme plans to increase aid

04/06/2008

Ban Ki-moon has expressed his satisfaction at the commitment to tacking world hunger shown during a high-level conference in Rome.

The United Nations (UN) secretary general's comments came as the World Food Programme (WFP) announced plans to roll out an additional $1.2 billion (£613 million) in food assistance to more than 60 nations.

World leaders have gathered at the three-day high-level conference on world food to discuss solutions to a global food crisis caused by escalating prices.

And according to Mr Ban, the conference "has been the success that it needed to be".

"There is a clear sense of resolve, shared responsibility, and political commitment among member states to making the right policy choices, and to investing in agricultural productivity for years to come, especially for smallholder farmers," Mr Ban told a press conference on the second day of conference.

"There is an acceptance of the need to provide special support for the most affected countries, and the most vulnerable populations."

As the attendees agreed to take "a challenge of global proportions", the WFP committed a huge sum to nations hit by rising prices and weather disasters.

The increased aid will also go to conflict-hit states such as Haiti and Afghanistan and countries affected by seasonal changes such as Senegal and the Central African Republic.

"With soaring food and fuel prices, hunger is on the march and we must act now," said Josette Sheeran, executive director of WFP.

"If we do not act quickly, the bottom billion will become the bottom two billion virtually overnight as their purchasing power is cut in half due to a doubling in food and fuel prices," she added.