with intention

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Soaring food prices threaten to increase globalhunger and poverty -- two issues at the forefront of Mennonite CentralCommittee (MCC) programs in many countries.In the last month, serious food riots have taken place in 10countries where MCC offers programs relating to food security.Unrest over food prices in Haiti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso,Indonesia and many other countries signals that more people are beingpushed into poverty, especially in countries where food instabilityand malnutrition are already daily realities, said Willie Reimer,director of MCC's Food, Disaster and Material Resources programs.The price of food staples such as wheat, rice, corn, soy, milk andmeat has risen dramatically in the past year. The United Nations Foodand Agriculture Organization reports that global food prices haverisen 40 percent over the last nine months, prompting fears that theworld's poorest people will buy less food or less nutritious food orbe forced to rely on aid."In North Korea, for example, a bag of rice that feeds a family forjust a few days costs more than 30 percent of a month's salary," saidReimer. "Fewer meals and a poorer diet will increase vulnerability todisease and illness."This spike in food prices is not just a short-term crisis -- highcommodity prices are projected to last for the next decade.The increase is driven in part by the growing demand for food fromemerging economies (especially in India and China), increased landuse for producing biofuels, a slump in food production because ofdrought and floods and high energy costs for producing andtransporting food.These factors, explained Reimer, are tied to longer-term problemscaused by inequities in the global agri-food system and economic and
political instability resulting from wars and conflicts.While higher commodity prices are good news for farmers in developedcountries, high food prices make it increasingly difficult for themost vulnerable people in the developing world to access food.The "bottom billion," the billion poorest people in the world -- 70percent of whom live in Africa -- are deeply affected by rising foodcosts. But the "new face of hunger" also includes more than 4 billionpeople with low incomes living in the 58 least-wealthy countries,including Haiti, Bolivia, Central Asian countries, Laos, Cambodia,Yemen, Burma and North Korea. These are people who suddenly can nolonger afford the food they see on store shelves. Prices have soaredbeyond their reach.MCC, working in partnership with local agencies throughout the world,is closely monitoring the impact of the food crisis and formulatingappropriate responses.MCC has a long history of addressing issues relating to food securityand food injustices. MCC food programs include direct foodassistance, water projects and agricultural supports. MCC also workswith community groups and governments to advocate for just trade and faireconomic policies.Most of MCC's food aid is distributed as direct food assistance. Foodis sent overseas in collaboration with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank(CFGB). CFGB arranges the purchase and shipment of food for its 13church-based members. MCC also has a relationship with the U.S.-basedFoods Resource Bank which provides financial support for agricultureprojects.Visit mcc.org/food for more information on MCC's response to the global foodcrisis.