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 3 June 2008
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"Food Crisis: Danger and Opportunity" Episode 1

03/06/2008

The consequences of soaring food prices -- starvation, malnourishment, riots and unrest -- are hitting millions of people around the world. The causes of the current crisis are complex, but the effects on people are clear, as is the need for solutions. The United Nations is among those taking the lead in responding to this challenge.~~

The Chinese characters for crisis are two -- one is the symbol for "danger", but the other is the symbol for "opportunity". It is with this view that UN Radio presents "The Food Crisis: Danger and Opportunity" a series that puts the human face on the crisis, while looking ahead to possible long and medium-term solutions.

Episode 1: The effects of rising food prices on people's lives

In the first months of this year as prices of staple foods spiked, food riots shook the world We hear from Liberians that rice has become a luxury; Ethiopians talk about the drought that is killing off livestock and threatening farmers with famine, and in Ghana, people say they are suffering, as rising food prices compete with other necessary expenses like school fees. The World Food Programme is struggling with its diminishing buying power to help an increasing number of needy people, who depend on its aid for survival. The causes of the crisis are known - now the the UN and the international community are working to find the solutions.

Producer: Bissera Kostova

(duration: 10'40")