In a speech in Brussels the head of the World Food Programme, Josette Sheeran, has said rising food prices around the world are causing more people to go hungry. This report from Alix Kroeger:

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Fuel and grain prices have gone up by forty per cent in the past year. As a result, the WFP is now five hundred million dollars short of what it needs for this year, while global food reserves are at their lowest level for three decades.

Ms Sheeran blames the rise in food prices on climate change, the growing demand from India and China, and the switch to biofuels which use food crops to produce energy.

Alix Kroeger, BBC News, Brussels

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rely on aid
need the money

costing more and more
becoming more expensive

Fuel and grain
Oil, gas, petrol and crops such as wheat or rice

have gone up by
have increased by

is now five hundred million dollars short of what it needs
has five hundred million dollars less than what is necessary

global food reserves
extra food that is held around the world for a time when it is needed

decades
periods of ten years

blames
puts the responsibility for

the growing demand
the increasing need

the switch to biofuels
the change to fuels made from crops (rather than oil or petrol, for example)

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