Food shortages are being experienced in countries all over the world. In the Horn of Africa countries of Somalia, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia, millions of people urgently need food aid.
Africa
Of the 32 countries currently classified by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) as worst affected by food shortages, 20 are in Africa.
In the Horn of Africa, continuing high fuel and food prices have compounded an already critical food situation caused by widespread drought and ongoing conflict.
Additionally, about one-third of all people living in sub-Saharan Africa, roughly 200 million, are currently malnourished.
Asia & the Pacific
Food production in the region is coming under pressure from severe drought in northern and western China, poor rainfall in India and extreme cold in central Asia.
The poorest Asian families spend as much as 70 percent of their incomes on food. And when prices are high, families do not necessarily stop buying rice, but rather begin to reduce their consumption of the vitamin and mineral-rich foods needed to help children grow, and reduce their spending on education and other important services.
Middle East & Eastern Europe
The UN has identified Iran, Iraq and the Gaza Strip as being particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. In Iraq, conflict, poor recent wheat and barley crops and a large number of internally displaced people are making it difficult for many families to access the food they need.
Latin America & the Caribbean
Basic food prices are high in much of Latin America and the Caribbean.The UNFAO estimates that the price of rice in Bogota, Colombia is more than 70% higher than it was a year ago, and in Ecuador the price of wheat flour remains around 75% above 2007 levels. Haiti and Cuba, as well as facing high food prices, are still recovering from the severe hurricanes and tropical storms of 2008.
Food and nutrition is a fundamental issue for World Vision, as so many other problems stem from food insecurity and malnutrition. With the ongoing support of ordinary people, we can continue our efforts to address the food and nutrition needs of vulnerable communities worldwide.