Photo stories: Global Food Crisis

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (third from left) chairs the inaugural meeting of a high-level task force seeking to devise a strategy to tackle soaring food prices. The plan will encompass both short and longer-term measures – including food aid and social protection – to alleviate the impact of the crisis on the hardest hit. (12 May 2008)

At a press conference in Berne, Switzerland, with leaders of UN agencies, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (centre) announces he will lead a high-level task force to coordinate UN efforts to tackle the food crisis. L to R: Josette Sheeran, World Food Programme; Jacques Diouf, Food and Agriculture Organization; Robert Zellick, World Bank; Pascal Lamy, World Trade Organization. (29 April 2008)

The global food crisis was a key theme during a high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which was held at the ECOSOC Chamber at UN Headquarters in New York. (14 April 2008)

Brazilian peacekeepers of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) on patrol near the National Palace in Port-au-Prince, following the outbreak of protests against escalating food prices. (8 April 2008)

Riot police in the Cocody district of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, clash with protestors demonstrating against rising food costs. High prices of imported wheat and rice products have brought people into the streets in countries such as Senegal and Mauritania in late 2007. Protestors again clashed with police this year in Senegal, Cameroon and Burkina Faso. 31 (March 2008). IRIN/Alexis Adele

The World Bank estimates that for many countries and regions where progress in reducing poverty has been difficult, the impact of rising food prices risks undermining the poverty gains of the last five to 10 years, at least in the short term. (9 April 2008). World Bank/ Curt Carnemark

Increases in rice prices are expected to create a domino effect amongst the prices of basic commodities in the Philippines and around the world. High prices and shortages of rice and other food stuffs are affecting vulnerable communities the most, particularly children. (6 May 2008). IRIN/Veejay Vilafranca

Trucks of the World Food Programme (WFP) deliver food relief to Haiti. The UN food agency faces a $750 million shortfall as it bids to feed the world's hungry. In February, it announced it required an additional $500 million, on top of its original appeal for this year of $2.9 billion, but surging food prices have led the agency to revise that figure to $756 million. (18 April 2008)

The UN Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will provide up to $200 million for poor farmers during the upcoming cropping season as it tries to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of millions of people facing hunger and malnutrition due to soaring food prices. (25 April 2008). IFAD/A. Wade

Rising food prices have pushed millions of Afghans into the "high risk" category of food insecurity, UN and Afghan officials say. (13 April 2008). WFP