Soaring Food Prices

Across the globe, soaring food prices — the highest since the mid-1970's — are forcing more and more of the world's poor and disadvantaged children to go hungry. The World Food Program predicts that 30 countries will face particular pressure to feed their people this year. Riots over the cost and scarcity of food have been reported in 34 countries. However, this is not a short-term problem. Food crop prices are expected to remain at extraordinarily high levels through 2010, and to remain high for at least a decade.

The rising cost of food will force many families to make difficult decisions about how to spend their money. Parents may have to cut back on which foods and how much of them they can provide to their families. They may need to remove their children from school because they cannot afford both food and school fees. They may need to reduce spending on health. Or they may sell their livestock in order to cope with dire economic circumstances.

Watch a USA TODAY video explaining soaring food prices and famine in Ethiopia and featuring extensive interviews with Save the Children staff.

Who's at Risk

Younger children, especially those under the age of 2, are the most vulnerable to the impacts of prolonged hunger, including weight loss and high susceptibility to illness. Over time, child hunger and malnutrition result in permanent negative effects on physical and cognitive growth, from which children may never recover.