InterAction Members Respond to the Global Food Crisis

WASHINGTON, April 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recent dramatic rises in the price of food, resulting from drought and increased food and feed demands, have affected many countries across the globe. Coupled with rising oil prices, this has caused some countries, including most notably Haiti, to experience destabilizing food riots. This global food crisis could cause a significant rise in global hunger. The World Food Program estimates that the current crisis could plunge more than 100 million people into hunger. The populations that live on the edge of poverty or are dependent on food aid, such as refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs), are especially vulnerable.

InterAction members and their local partners are responding to the crisis through a variety of mechanisms in communities where they have worked for decades, camps that shelter vulnerable populations, and countries where needs are acute. Beyond responding in countries where hunger has already appeared, many humanitarian and development organizations need additional funds to even carry out activities originally planned for this year. Higher food prices have limited organizations' abilities to deliver as much food as planned, and the rising cost of fuel is adding additional unbudgeted expenses across the board.

A complete and up-to-date list of agencies responding to the crisis is available at: http://www.interaction.org/foodcrisis.

InterAction has also developed guidelines on the most appropriate ways to help those affected by overseas disasters: http://www.interaction.org/disaster/guide_giving.html.

InterAction is the largest alliance of U.S.-based international development and humanitarian nongovernmental organizations. Our 165 members operate in every developing country, working with local communities to overcome poverty and suffering by helping to improve their quality of life.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: InterAction

CONTACT: Nasserie Carew, +1-202-552-6561, cell: +1-202-341-3814,
ncarew@interaction.org, or Tawana Jacobs, +1-202-552-6534, +1-301-325-8687,
tjacobs@interaction.org, both of InterAction

Web Site: http://www.interaction.org/

2008-04-30 19:05:01 0349793 PRNEWSWIRE