It wasn’t long ago the World Food Program (WFP) announced for the first time in history a shortage of food. Now the WFP is considering rationing food aid due to rising prices. This means a new wave of hardship for those who depend on the WFP for basic food staples. Prices rose 40 percent last year alone, and import bills are expected to jump another third this year. Some countries will feel it more than others, Africa is expected to have a 49 percent increase. For those who have been hit the hardest life is only going to get worse. People in developing countries living on 50 cents a day already spend 80-90 percent of their income solely on food.
"In some of these developing countries, prices have gone up 80% for staple food. When you see those kinds of increases, they are simply priced out of the food markets," said Josette Sheeran.
As the situation worsens, the WFP is advising urgent action for poor countries and asking for greater contributions. “In many places, we are the only source of food for some people,” said Sheeran. Budget requirements for the agency are increasing by several million dollars per week as food prices continue to skyrocket.
The effects can be seen around the globe. Egypt has increased its food rationing system for the first time in 20 years. China and Russia are setting price controls, Pakistan has reintroduced ration cards and Argentina and Vietnam have begun to enforce foreign sales taxes and are banning exports on food.
Countries that formerly did not rely on the WFP are increasingly being force to do so. Places like Afghanistan, Mexico, Yemen and Indonesia are facing challenges. Middle class citizens are choosing between education, health care and food.
The world’s largest food donor, the U.S., has been reducing its surplus and production, choosing to fund agencies like the WFP instead. The growing use of biofuels in the U.S. such as corn ethanol has severely hampered the world’s food supplies. As demand grows and supplies are cut back, prices will only continue to rise. This is a situation that for billions of people, spells starvation and the diseases resulting from it.
