Food Aid Demand Grew 10% in 2005

ROME - Jul 20/06 - SNS -- Global food aid needs had been declining, but in 2005 world needs jumped 10% to 8.2 million metric tons (MT), with the United States supplying half of the world's food aid needs, with the European Union and China rounding out the top three suppliers.

The data from Food Aid Monitor from INTERFAIS, the International Food Aid Information System, tracks all donations of food, not only those channelled though he World Food Program (WFP). Interestingly, China rocketed up the list of donor nations in 2005 because of huge donations of rice to North Korea.

Canada increased its donations by 42%, to 275,000 MT. Other relatively new donors, such as the Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, doubled or even tripled their support from 2004 to 2005. Donations from non-governmental organizations, such as the American Red Cross, increased by 64%.

The United States remained the world's most generous food aid donor, providing 4 million MT, or 49% of all donations. Overall donations from the European Union totalled 1.5 million MT, with the European Commission, Austria, Denmark, Netherlands and Sweden significantly increasing their support.

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