Bush responds to World Bank plea for action

by Richard Kilner

Story link: Bush responds to World Bank plea for action

President Bush has ordered $200m in emergency food aid to help the most impoverished nations.

His move comes as a response to the World Bank and IMF concern raised over soaring food prices across the globe, which has seen civil unrest in various countries and multiple deaths from rioting in Haiti.

Robert Zoellick, the president of the World Bank, has called on wealthy nations to help alleviate the dire food shortages affecting numerous poorer countries.

Zoellick has said he believes a fund totalling $500m at least is necessary to solve the current worldwide problem.

The food shortage has been exacerbated by the encouragement of biofuels, with a so-called green initiative leading to a lack of plants used for food rather than fuel.

Oxfam and others have been critical of the promotion of biofuels, which had been seen as a greener alternative to fuel vehicles.

In certain parts of the world severe weather has caused more localised problems, as droughts and bad winters destroy crops meant for food.