More Than 3 Million People Suffer From Food Crisis In Nepal: Report.

"A crucial government report has reckoned that 40 percent of the population in the mountain and hill districts [of Nepal]... is suffering through a severe food crisis. The numbers affected, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MoAC), stands at 3.35 million, out a total of 8.4 million people living in these areas. A report released by the MoAC on Wednesday has stated that Nepal is running short of 132,916 tons of food grains, and this despite the rise in rice and maize production, by 5.2 percent and 2.8 percent this year respectively, compared to last year...." [Xinhua/Factiva]

Voice of America adds that "...the ongoing political instability is hard felt in a food-deficit country that is already vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition....World Food Program (WFP) Country Director Richard Ragan says Nepal's recent political chaos has 'thrown fuel on the fire,' in a country already suffering from massive food shortages. Recent parliamentary disruption has the WFP working overtime to find non-governmental ways to continue to feed two million of Nepal's most needy citizens...." [Voice of America/Factiva]

In related news, Trend News Agency reports that "...UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged Member States to agree on a set of decisions that will revitalize agriculture, support small farmers and promote food security for all.... The international community, he said, must offer short-term emergency measures to meet critical needs. But it must also make longer-term investments to promote food production and agricultural development, enhance food security and maintain and accelerate momentum towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)...." [Trend News Agency (Azerbaijan)/Factiva]