The New Nation - Internet Edition

Agency, Rome

The UN is to provide an additional $1.2bn (£613m) of food aid for 75 million people in the 60 nations hardest hit by rising food prices.

The announcement was made by World Food Programme chief Josette Sheeran at a UN-sponsored summit in Rome.

Also at the summit, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said there was an "urgent need" for international policy guidelines on biofuel production.

Food costs have reached a 30-year high, causing riots in several countries.

Map showing impact of food price rises on trade balances.

The crisis is believed to have pushed 100 million people into hunger worldwide.

Challenge Ms Sheeran told a news conference that unless the international community acted quickly, the number of people in dire poverty could double.