Refugees and the Food Cost Crisis
The U.N.'s António Guterres appeals to nations to help ward off hunger and political turmoil
When prices for corn, wheat, and other food staples rise, as they have recently and dramatically, the world's poor suffer first—and usually most. Particularly vulnerable are refugees confined to camps and de facto ghettos who are at the mercy of foreign aid. Many depend upon the support of the United Nations, which, through the World Food Programme and the U.N. Refugee Agency, plans to provide food to 73 million people in 78 countries in 2008.
Soaring prices have clearly made that task more challenging. In 2007, the WFP estimated it would need $2.9 billion to cover its operations this year. In March, the organization revised its numbers upward, saying it would need an additional $755 million to buy the same amount of food. Appeals have since been issued to the international community, warning of hundreds of millions of people at risk of hunger and malnutrition and the possibility of political turmoil.
Worse still for humanitarian aid groups and their beneficiaries, the number of refugees worldwide is at an all-time high: A report released earlier this month found that 26 million people were displaced from their homes in 2007, "the highest number ever recorded," according to one official. Three countries riddled with internal conflict—Colombia, Sudan, and Iraq—accounted for roughly half of the total.
U.S. News recently spoke with U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres to discuss the humanitarian impact of rising food prices. Excerpts:
Which refugee populations or regions are suffering most?
Obviously, Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan live in urban situations, and they are particularly vulnerable. Their living conditions have been deteriorating significantly in the recent past. Some locations in Africa— or instance, Eastern Chad, eastern Sudan—are particularly vulnerable because they are far from the source of supplies. Not only do we face very high food prices but also extremely dramatic logistical challenges.
Even more so than the poor, refugee populations are vulnerable to high prices and food shortages. What's uniquely difficult about their situation?
In young democracies and in countries that have emerged from conflict, it is essential to guarantee the security of returns of refugees and other displaced persons. The governments have very little capacity to cope with the challenges. The current situation is creating a huge stress in these societies. The most vulnerable people in today's world are the urban poor and those who no longer have connections with their communities, which means refugees and people internally displaced inside the borders of their own countries. I believe the massive support of the international community is necessary to make sure that democracy and peace can be sustained.
How is the UN responding?
In the present situation, the World Food Programme is having a huge stress over its resources. The levels of funds needed to provide support to refugees and other displaced persons have dramatically increased. At the same time, there are problems of availability, which, until now, the World Food Programme has been able to cope with but represent a major threat in the near future. I can only appeal to the international community to fully respond to what the WFP has asked for in the months to come in order for them to be able to fully deliver on their commitments and our common concerns.
How would you characterize the international cooperation so far?
There has been meaningful response but we are still far from what is necessary.
What happens if the calls for aid fall short? What gets cut?
There might be a moment in which we would have to reduce support, and this is the kind of situation we have to do everything we can to avoid. The first thing is to reduce the diversity of things that are provided. If food pipelines are broken, this can also mean the reduction of rations.
Refugee populations typically depend upon food from other countries. But lately we've been seeing a wave of trade restrictions, as worried countries try to keep their own prices down and supplies stable.
Yes. This is having a negative impact on the availability of food in the global markets. It is important to recognize this is not a crisis of the moment; this is a structural change in the food markets that requires a comprehensive response. That comprehensive response needs to make sure that we influence markets in order for more incentives to exist for farmers to produce and for food to be available at prices the poor can afford. That of course relates to the need to move ahead with trade, to move ahead with technology, to move ahead with incentives for farmers. It requires also the reconsideration of biofuels for some situations.
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Reader Comments
Cost of rising food prices
Americans and most Western nations spend around 10% of their income on food. The rest of the world spends on average more than 65% of their income on food. Without an increase in income but in burden, this places much of the world's population at risk for malnutrition and possibly death.
Title Does Not Coincide With Article
Title Shown Under Opinions:
More Horse Deaths at Equestrian Events - Deadly events must stop now ???
WHERE IS THIS OPINION SHOWN? CLICK ON IT AND
FOOD SHORTAGES AND RISING FOOD COSTS COME UP.
Hunger
These people need to be taught and practice birth control. If they don't want to do this there is no way to help them. You can only help those who help themselves. Too many people is the worst enemy of the earth and are doing the most damage.
Hunger
Please,
Don't think that birth control and nations or peoples that don't participate are the problem. We all need to go back to family values and read up on history and it's best books. One I know of would help, if all people would follow it's basic value system. We are "these people", truth be told.
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The so called "food shortage" in the USA
Just a reminder... The United States grows its own rice and exports more than 50% of it. So, go to Costco or the supermarket and load up on 50 lbs bags of rice if you so prefer, but I guarantee you the rats will eat it before you get to do so. By the way, not to change the subject, but I must whisper this: I heard there is a potato shortage in Idaho. Hurry now, and get some of them spuds before they are all gone! After all, the shelf life of spuds are shorter than on rice. Footnote: Think of it.. ..McDonalds will have no french fries and there will be no mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving. What a disaster! Better get an additional couple of bags of rice to tide you over. I saw some UFO's in the sky last night, with bags and bags of stolen rice and spuds in their cargo. What has it all come to???! Are the Russians coming yet?
Apr 25, 2008 13:47:41 PM [permalink] [report comment]