Drastic rises in the cost of food and a shortfall at the World Food Programme are forcing World Vision to cut food aid to 1.5 million people.

According to the World Bank, food prices have soared by a staggering 83 per cent in the past three years. In the last five weeks alone, the price of rice—a staple food for millions of people worldwide—has more than doubled.

This staggering rise in food costs constitutes a crisis for families with very little to spend on food.

Compounding the problem is a $500 million shortfall at the World Food Programme (WFP) which is attributed to unmet commitments by some donor countries. WFP is one of World Vision's largest sources of food aid.

"Despite our best efforts, 1.5 million of our beneficiaries are no longer receiving food aid," said Dave Toycen, president of World Vision Canada. "Around 572,000 of these are children.”

Food Programs Halted
Due to this crisis, World Vision has been prevented from launching several new food-aid delivery projects where they are needed. In some countries it has even caused the organization to halt food-aid programming altogether.

World Vision is working to ensure that children sponsored by Canadians are minimally affected, making funds available to purchase food for the poorest families in their communities.

Unfortunately, a fix to this problem is not just around the corner. "This pricing crisis is likely to take at least two years to stabilize,” says Toycen. “That is far too long for the millions of children under age five who need sufficient levels of nutrition now.” 
 
Difficult for Children
The World Bank estimates that the recent rise in food prices could push another 100 million people deeper into poverty—ten per cent of these will be children under age 5.

“Without enough healthy food, children under age five can suffer irreversible, impaired brain development and stunted physical development,” says Toycen.

Long-term Solutions
Emergency food aid by itself is not the answer to hunger and malnutrition. Long-term development solutions are needed and something that World Vision sees as crucial.

"Breastfeeding children need healthy mothers, small-scale farmers need support to grow food, communities need help to mitigate the effects of natural disasters," says Toycen.

Preventing child hunger and malnutrition must be the international community's top priority in tackling this food-pricing crisis, according to World Vision. Prevention is considerably cheaper and more effective than a cure.

You Can Help
While there are no quick answers, you can be part of the long-term solution by sponsoring a child. By doing so, you’ll help the whole community toward self-sufficiency with better access to food, safe water, seeds, farming tools and agricultural training.

Click here to sponsor a child now.