Countries urged to include anti-hunger aid in bailout plans

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) urged yesterday countries to step up and allocate rescue package to address hunger.

The WFP said the problem should be addressed equally like the financial rescue packages to address the global economic downturn.

It said countries should share a fraction of what is proposed for financial rescue packages of various governments.

“We need to send a bold signal of hope to the world with a human rescue package,” said WFP executive director Posette Sheeran.

Sheeran made the call to countries during her first visit to New Delhi that has the largest population of undernourished people in the world.

“As we take care of Wall Street and Main Street, we can’t forget the places that have no streets,” she said.

WFP, set to feed nearly 100 million of the world’s hungriest people in 2009, announced that it would start the New Year needing $5.2 billion for urgent hunger needs.

Without a rapid injection of funds, millions of people in Haiti, the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, and other hunger hot spots will run out of food assistance by the end of March when warehouse stocks run out. WFP is voluntarily funded and relies on annual contributions for all of its programs.

Sheeran said that with a mere one percent of what has been tabled for financial rescue and stimulus packages in the United States and Europe, developed countries could fully fund the WFP work and make a mark toward meeting other urgent needs.

“Feeding all 59 million hungry school children worldwide ($3 billion per year) and the establishment of a reserve fund for fast acquisition of food stocks for emergencies are some needs. Funds are also needed to boost the agricultural production of small-holder farmers who have seen the price of seeds and fertilizers more than double since 2006,” she said.