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UN Report Finds Nearly 1B Are Hungry

Cost of basics is down, but still 28% higher than just 2 years ago

By Green Point,  Newser User

Posted Dec 10, 2008 12:54 PM CST
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(Newser) – Rising food prices have pushed the number of people going hungry to 963 million, or 14% of the world's population, says a UN report published yesterday. Though costs have dropped from historic peaks, basics still cost 28% more than in 2006. That's left 40 million more people undernourished this year, the majority living in seven developing countries, the Guardian reports.

The credit crunch has shifted focus away from the food crisis, but yesterday’s findings will increase pressure on leaders to tackle the costs and environmental perils of feeding a population estimated to reach 9 billion within 50 years. “Not enough has been done to reduce hunger and not enough is being done to prevent more people becoming hungry,” said the director behind the report.

Impoverished children of gold miners eat a meager meal March 20, 2008 in a shanty town on the outskirts of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Impoverished children of gold miners eat a meager meal March 20, 2008 in a shanty town on the outskirts of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.   (Getty Images)
Jackeline Moyo, age 5, and an AIDS orphan, stands in front of her grandmother's shack in the countryside of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Jackeline Moyo, age 5, and an AIDS orphan, stands in front of her grandmother's shack in the countryside of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.   (Getty Images)
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Halving hunger by 2015 becoming less of a reality
AFP

 
United Nations • hunger • starvation • food prices • financial crisis

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