The increase in food prices, close to record levels of 2008, amounted to 44 million people in developing countries under the poverty line, according to a report released Tuesday by the World Bank (WB).World Bank President Robert Zoellick, has called the situation "dangerous" and has urged the leaders of the G20 that will meet within a few days in Paris to consider the issue of food as an issue "fundamental" to the agenda .
According to the latest World Bank report, the
global food prices have risen by 15% between October and January, which means 29% more than last year.
"The rising prices are pushing millions of people into poverty, especially the most vulnerable who spend over half their income on food," said in conference call Zoellick
the expensive food and the poverty people..
Poverty people in the Word
World Bank chief stressed that the "increased price volatility due to higher inventories and increased demand, and compounded by the adverse weather conditions," the issue of food can turn into a "big problem."
Foods that have shown an increase is particularly wheat, which has doubled in the last six months, and corn, which has soared 73%, or sugar, which has increased more than 20%
the expensive food and the poverty people.
However, the WB has indicated that the moderate behavior of the prices of rice, whose prices have risen at a slower pace, has kept the number of people who have crossed the poverty level is lower.
The agency has acknowledged that the rise in prices caused 24 million people out of poverty due to higher revenue, but stressed that those affected by this rise was more, 68 million people, leaving the net 44 million people living below the poverty line.
The WB puts the poverty threshold income of less than $ 1.25 a day and
the expensive food and the poverty people..
The World Bank has recommended measures to mitigate the effects of this sharp increase "the extent of food security programs, the removal of export restrictions and reducing the use of biofuel
Food and poverty people
Zoellick has not linked this rise in prices in the recent protests in several Arab countries like Egypt and Tunisia, but has acknowledged that failure to address the food crisis "could be used to increase pressure on fragile political systems and join the grievances. "
For its part, the nongovernmental organization Oxfam has highlighted the speculation as a major cause of the
rising price of food.
"The global grain stocks are still relatively healthy. Circumstantial evidence points to speculation as responsible for this crisis in food prices," said Luc Lampriere in a statement, a spokesman for Oxfam.The nongovernmental organization Oxfam urged the leaders of major economies in the world, will gather in Paris to take action on
rising prices before they escape the reach of the poorest.
"If you earn $ 20 an hour, the high prices will end up affecting your pocket. If you win $ 20 a month, this price increase can mean the difference between eating or not, has ruled Lampriere.
