Ban Ki-moon: the global food crisis due to add about 100 million poor people in need of assistance

Sheng Yuan

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon 28 and 29, two days in the Swiss capital Bern hosted 27 major international organizations to participate in the Food Summit, to discuss how to deal with the growing global food crisis. The 27 agencies under the jurisdiction of the major United Nations agencies. Ban Ki-moon before the meeting expressed the hope that the two-day closed-door meeting to discuss the appropriate contingency measures and other long-term solution to solve the food crisis.

The United Nations said: "The global food crisis and the solutions provided by the United Nations to be the central theme of this conference." According to informed sources, the meeting also discussed the issue of biofuels market protectionism and conducted in-depth research.

25, Ban Ki-moon said in Vienna, the world has recently added about 100 million poor people in need of assistance, and these people before the food prices are in need of assistance. He said that the medium and long term, "the international community and the leaders should discuss ways to improve the economic system and distribution system to improve agricultural products (Stock Forum) production."

World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Sheeran, World Bank President Robert Zoellick, UN Food and Agriculture (FAO) Director-General Diouf, IFAD (IFAD) president Borg attended the meeting.

FAO had warned that soaring food prices have led to riots in 37 countries and other social unrest. WFP also issued an urgent appeal to the international donor community to fill its $ 755 million aid funding gap.

World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Pascal Lamy also attended the meeting in Bern. He said that the global food crisis has further demonstrated the need for open markets.

"Developed countries agricultural subsidies destroy agriculture in poor countries," WTO spokesman said, "the world urgently needs a more open system, there is no need to reduce the variety of competition and loss."

The total International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Juan Somavia warned that only seek a temporary solution to deal with the current crisis is very dangerous, and over time, a similar crisis may happen again.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chairman of Strauss - Kahn criticized trade protectionism and the use of grain to produce biofuels, and called upon to coordinate global agricultural policy.