There are several components to this story, both local and some international. The Washington Post reports:

The U.S. government's humanitarian relief agency will significantly scale back emergency food aid to some of the world's poorest countries this year because of soaring global food prices, and the U.S. Agency for International Development is drafting plans to reduce the number of recipient nations, the amount of food provided to them, or both, officials at the agency said.

USAID officials said that a 41 percent surge in prices for wheat, corn, rice and other cereals over the past six months has generated a $120 million budget shortfall that will force the agency to reduce emergency operations. That deficit is projected to rise to $200 million by year's end. Prices have skyrocketed as more grains go to biofuel production or are consumed by such fast-emerging markets as China and India.

The Post's story continues:

"Look at what's happened to wheat prices alone -- they shot up 25 percent in one day last week," said Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Program. "This is really the first emergency we've faced without a drought, war, natural disaster. We will have to cut the amount of people being served or the amount of food being served if we do not get more funds."

Some angles to explore:

• Check with local relief agencies that collect money and food for needy people abroad. How has the rising cost of food affected charities' ability to feed the hungry in other countries?

• How have local food banks and homeless shelters been affected by the rising cost of food?

• Explain how the commodities and food stamp programs work. A lot of people who could get help don't because they don't understand the system or are ashamed to participate.

• Do food stamp recipients notice that their vouchers buy less?

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