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Soaring prices of food affecting orphaned children

16/05/2008

SOS Mother deals with increased food costs

During recent weeks the global phenomenon of food shortage and soaring prices of basic food particularly in the poorer countries has been highlighted in the press.

During the last two weeks SOS Children has assessed what impact this has on our work and how we can best possibly help.

The problem of food costs is particularly serious in the poorer countries with weak domestic food production where shortages and high prices are faced. Other countries just face the high prices.

Since we work within agreed annual budgets, our projects have to cope with increased food costs but no increase in their income.

Prices of staple food like rice and maize having increased in some countries by 30 to 80%.

The SOS mothers in our SOS families cannot any longer offset this through the purchase of other less expensive food items. The families in our family strengthening programmes face similar and even greater difficulties.

Rice is a staple food for many

Increased cost of rice affecting daily lives of children in India

Countries, especially across Africa and Asia, rely on rice as a staple part of diet. These figures show the increases in rice costs from 2007:

Liberia
Rice prices increased by more than 100% between October 2007 and April 2008

Haiti
Rice prices increased by 87.5% between January 2007 and February 2008

Asia
Increase in domestic rice prices in various countries between March 2007 and March 2008 in per cent:
Bangladesh 100
India 9.3
Indonesia 8.7
Nepal 20
Pakistan 60
Philippines 40
Sri Lanka 55
Vietnam 17

Syria
Rice prices have increased by 20% between February and April 2008

To date SOS families have made all efforts to cope within their means. SOS mothers were economising and using their household savings. However, unlike families in the community they cannot look for further ways to increase their income, take loans etc. We cannot leave them on their own in the coming months and have to support them.

Relevant Countries: Bangladesh, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Liberia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Vietnam.

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