Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

UN May Cut Food Rations for Schoolkids

Soaring food prices raise 'world's misery index,' group says

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 19, 2008 12:38 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Food rations for hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren may be cut because of surging crop prices that have widened the World Food Program’s funding gap to $750 million, Reuters says. The UN food aid agency also blamed the situation on high fuel prices and reductions in new crop plantings. “The world’s misery index is rising,” the program’s top exec warned.

Josette Sheeran added that poor people are now forced to skip meals or choose less nutritious foods. The US has pledged $200 million, but more donations are needed. Otherwise, “We will face in the next couple of weeks the need to cut at least 400,000 children from school feeding,” Sheeran said, noting most poor people “don’t know what hit them.”

The World Food Program says food rations for schoolchildren may be cut if the agency doesn't receive more donations.
The World Food Program says food rations for schoolchildren may be cut if the agency doesn't receive more donations.   (AP Photo/United Nations World Food Program, Lena Savelli, HO)
Afghan labors download sacks of wheat provided by World Food Program for distribution near Kabul, Afghanistan.
Afghan labors download sacks of wheat provided by World Food Program for distribution near Kabul, Afghanistan.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
A young boy collects grain that fell off a World Food Program truck during food distribution in Nairobi.
A young boy collects grain that fell off a World Food Program truck during food distribution in Nairobi.   (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
World Food Program Executive Director Josette Sheeran said, The world's misery index is rising.
World Food Program Executive Director Josette Sheeran said, "The world's misery index is rising."   (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Food shortage is the silent tsunami
Economist

Shortages leading to political destabilization
The Age

 
United Nations • wheat • crops • rice • farmer • food prices • World Food Program

More Newser Stories

UN: Hunger Affects Record 1B

UN Head: Drop Policies That Up Food Prices

Another Key Shortage: Fertilizer

Boom Time on Heartland Farms

Farmers Fight to Legalize Pot's Cousin
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne