from the Daily Dispatch Graça MachelTHE factors behind the global food crisis may be complex, but its effect is simple in its brutality. The worst-affected countries are those that need to import agricultural produce, and the hardest-hit people are those who spend the largest proportion of their incomes on food. It is therefore the poorest people in the poorest countries who are feeling the brunt of this catastrophe.The Food and Agriculture Organisation notes that 21 of the 37 countries worst-affected by high food prices are in Africa.This week, the Africa Progress Panel produced its inaugural report on the state of Africa, assessing the state of the continent’s development and identifying the challenges that threaten progress.Chaired by Kofi Annan and including leaders, development...
from News 24 Johannesburg - The Africa Progress Panel, chaired by Kofi Annan, on Monday demanded international action to deal with the urgent threat of world food prices, while also calling for G8 leaders to take immediate steps to get their commitments to Africa back on target.The Africa Progress Panel's report states that the world food crisis "threatens to destroy years, if not decades, of economic progress" as "100 million people are being pushed back into absolute poverty"."Unless some way can be found to halt and reverse the current trend in food prices there will be a significant increase in hunger, malnutrition, and in infant and child mortality".The Africa Progress Panel's report also warns that, despite progress on debt relief and significant increases in assistance by...