Prices have risen 40% on average globally since last summer, the Guardian reported. The rising cost and scarcity of food has been blamed for violent protests in Egypt, Haiti, Ivory Coast and Cameroon, as well as heated demonstrations in Mauritania, Mozambique and
Senegal.
Hunger riots run the risk of destabilising weak governments, Sir John Holmes, UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, was reported as saying. "The security implications [of the food crisis] should also not be underestimated as food riots are already being reported across the globe," he said.
Food scarcity and fuel shortages will compound the damaging effects of global warming, Holmes added.
See full story
Read the full speech here