United Nations Radio

UN humanitarian agencies are once again warning that the rising food prices could plunge more than 100 million people on all continents into further poverty and hunger.

The World Food Programme (WFP) calls this a "silent tsunami" and says it is now facing the biggest challenge in its 45-year history. WFP increased its emergency appeal to an additional 750 million dollars, half of which has already been covered by donors. The UN Refugee agency (UNHCR) is also concerned with the fate of the displaced people faced with the spiraling cost of food as these people are usually "the poorest of the poor". The agency's spokesperson Rod Redmond warns that such a situation can lead to more displacement.

" This kind of dramatic price increases can also trigger instability, particularly in poor countries. This is of great concern to UNHCR as well because we are already seeing this happening in several countries. And, of course, the possibility could be eventual increased displacement should it trigger further conflict and instability in those countries."

WFP and UNHCR are bringing their concerns to London and Washington. The Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Josette Sheeran, is discussing the food crisis with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, while the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, is meeting with US government officials.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova.

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