By SPA,
Washington : The United States has promised to spend an extra $200 million to alleviate the impact of rising food prices across the world, as population in poor nations globally are taking to the streets in anger and frustration over the rising cost of food.
The United States announced its emergency aid after World Bank head Robert Zoellick warned that 100 million more people could be pushed into poverty because food prices have doubled in the past three years.
“This additional food aid will address the impact of rising commodity prices on U.S. emergency food aid programs, and be used to meet unanticipated food aid needs in Africa and elsewhere,” White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
She said Washington would consider increasing the aid and that the announced increase would be channeled through the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Perino said earlier that President George W. Bush was “very concerned” about the rise in food prices, and “has raised the issue with his national security advisors, and he has asked State (Department) and USAID to look at what can be done in the near term.”