A$2m for WFP for food security

Australia yesterday confirmed a further A$2 million to Bangladesh to support the ongoing emergency operation of United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to address the impact of increased food prices on the poorest people, says a press release.
“I am pleased to announce this contribution for WFP's emergency operation and hope this will provide assistance to communities affected by recent economic and environmental shocks, including communities recovering from cyclone Aila,” said Justin Lee, the Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh.
According to a recent joint study by WFP, Unicef and the Institute of Public Health Nutrition, high food prices had a serious impact on household food security and nutrition. Between 2005 and 2008, real household income dropped by 12 percent and by 2008 households spent 62 percent of their income on food the highest for over a decade. An earlier study found an estimated 7.5 million people were pushed back into poverty due to high food prices.