CRS to Congress: On World Food Day we can do more!

Social justice news
October 16, 2007

CRS to Congress: On World Food Day we can do more!
Baltimore, Md., Oct. 16, 2007 – On this commemoration of World Food Day, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is urging Congress to provide increased food aid funding to offset the recent sharp rise in the prices of essential commodities like wheat, corn and soybean oil.

Without increased funding, CRS could be forced to cut over 800,000 participants from its food aid programs. This threat comes as Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed today in his Message for World Food Day that “food is a primary right.”

A recent CRS analysis of futures prices indicates a projected shortfall of $320 million in the 2008 fiscal year simply to maintain food aid at the amount provided in the 2006 fiscal year. This projection does not factor in rising costs for freight and other expenses.

CRS projections indicate that the price of wheat will increase by more than 70% in the 2008 fiscal year over 2006 prices. Soy bean oil is expected to increase by more than 45%. These rising prices will restrict the food aid tonnage that can be purchased, and rising freight prices will further eat into the Administration’s proposed $1.2 billion food aid budget.

While CRS recognizes that the U.S. has a moral responsibility to respond to emergencies, this effort should not take resources away from the long-term development programs that assist the chronically hungry. Although U.S. law stipulates that 75% of food aid resources should be devoted to programs that address chronic hunger, these development efforts have only received 25% of annual food aid funding in recent years. Most food aid has been used for emergencies. This is simply robbing Peter to pay Paul.

In response, CRS and more than a dozen other humanitarian agencies that distribute food aid worldwide are urging Congress to mandate that at least half the current annual food aid budget – in other words, a minimum of $600 million – be used exclusively for development programs. These food aid programs have a profound effect on the lives of poor and hungry people around the world. They feed millions of people each year, many of them children, and help their families feed themselves over the long-term. Designated funding for long-term development would guarantee that we don't lose the fight against chronic hunger by diverting almost all food aid to short-term emergency uses.

An annual food aid appropriation of at least $2 billion is required to meet the needs for current emergency as well as long-term development programs.

Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency provides assistance to people in nearly 100 countries and territories based on need, regardless of race, nationality or creed.

Back to page top