United Nations Radio

The UN food agency-WFP says it's rapidly expanding its operations in Haiti reaching more hungry people.

This as a result of a US$23 million allocation from funds raised through its recent appeal due to high food prices.

WFP's Regional Director Pedro Madrano says the agency's "food is critical to helping people cope with high prices - a daily burden on people who are already very poor."

WFP says better access to food for the most hungry will also help stabilize Haitian society which was rocked by fatal food riots earlier this year.

It says the Haitian population is highly vulnerable to food price increases as the country imports over 50 per cent of its food including rice - its staple diet.

The UN food agency is currently assisting more than 800,000 people in Haiti, including 40,000 vulnerable families - most of them headed by females in urban areas.

During the summer months, WFP will also give 200,000 school-age children hot meals and take home rations to prevent them from joining street gangs or searching for work.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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