The food crisis has created challenges for children and families in several countries across Asia.  There is a growing sense of urgency as the cost of rice, as well as fuel and other basic goods, continues to rise.  Conditions could worsen with the approach of the rainy season, which tends to mark the lowest agricultural yield.  Families already struggling to cover daily expenses may be forced to make difficult decisions between buying food and covering the cost of school fees or health services for children.   In the most impoverished areas, a growing number of children are at risk of hunger and malnutrition. Read more about how the food crisis is affecting children in Nepal and the Philippines.

Bhagirthi, a young mother and her son. Nepal

Food prices in Nepal have gone up significantly, increasing pressure on the average consumer in Kathmandu and in some rural areas, according to news reports. Save the Children staff report that it is almost impossible to buy local Nepali rice in the market; in Kathmandu; where the vast majority of rice still available appears to be from India.

Nepal is also suffering from the high cost of fuel and a chronic shortage of petroleum products, which contributes to higher food prices. 

The problem is likely to be exacerbated by droughts and floods, which the country regularly faces. Major floods last year resulted in significant crop loss, and the expectation for this year is the same.  

Nepal has high rates of stunting and wasting in children, which could worsen if food supplies become scarce or if families cannot afford sufficient and nutritious food for their young children. Save the Children recently partnered with the World Food Programme on a food-for-work program and is in current discussions with UNICEF and others to address this issue. 

Philippines

As the world's largest importer of rice, the Philippines will be hard-hit by soaring food prices.  In the past month, the price of rice has increased by 30 percent.  For the past year, fuel prices have also been on the rise along with the cost of power, water, and other basic commodities.  Given the fixed and low income of a daily wage earner in the urban and rural areas, many poor families will be forced to make difficult choices to cover family expenses including food, health care, and school fees.

The Philippine government has taken measures to absorb the impact of price increases by subsidizing rice by roughly 40 percent.  However, the demand is high and families who cannot afford to purchase rice at the commercial rate line up every day to receive their daily quota of subsidized rice, which is limited to roughly six pounds per family. 

If the government is unable to sustain its rice subsidy program, the country will face even more difficult times ahead.  The cost of domestic rice is expected to rise as a result of hoarding and exhaustion of the previous stocks.  To compound the situation, the upcoming harvest is threatened by the onset of monsoon season which is expected to bring as many as 16 tropical cyclones to the Philippines.  

Save the Children continues to monitor the situation.  The agency offers economic opportunity programs to help families endure the impact of increased costs of basic goods.  Save the Children is also working with local and national networks to facilitate employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.