[Mb-civic] CBC News - WAR LEADING CAUSE OF HUNGER, SAYS AGENCY

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WAR LEADING CAUSE OF HUNGER, SAYS AGENCY
WebPosted Mon May 23 11:32:39 2005

Rome---War is now the leading cause of world hunger, outstripping
weather and natural disasters, according to a United Nations report
released Monday.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says more than 35 per cent of
food emergencies between 1992 and 2003 were the result of conflict and
economic problems.

That compares to 15 per cent from 1986 to 1991.

Hunger hot spots

The report was presented in Rome Monday at a meeting of the Committee on
World Food Security.

It says there are now 36 hunger hot spots in the world, 23 of them
in Africa.

Angola was the worst-hit. It has had an almost permanent food emergency
since 1986, most of it caused by war.

"Armed conflicts are now the leading cause of world hunger with the
effects of HIV/AIDS and climate change not far behind," the FAO says.

The report warned that the UN goal of reducing the world's hungry by
half by the year 2015, is almost certain to be missed if current
trends continue.

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