UN agencies appeal for action on food prices
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Worker sorts and packages rice at the Magugu collection cente, Arusha, Tanzania
Three United Nations agencies have appealed for action on international food prices following fears of a repeat of the 2007-2008 world food crisis.
The heads of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) issued a joint statement on Tuesday.
Charles Appel reports.
The heads of FAO, IFAD and WFP are calling for urgent action to make sure that price shocks do not turn into a catastrophe hurting tens of millions of people over the coming months.
The three UN agencies say that in response to high food prices, countries must avoid panic buying and refrain from imposing export restrictions.
They identify weather as being among the drivers of each of the three international food price spikes in the past five years.
The UN agencies warn that the danger will remain until a way is found to make the food system shock-proof and climate-proof.
Charles Appel, United Nations
Duration: 41″
