“Food prices remain high and volatile affecting the poorest countries the most in a context of a persistently troubled global economy:” according to Senior Economist and World Bank Group's Food Price Watch published in advance of the G20 Summit in Cannes, France (The Summit has even its own Logo -ABOVE-and infrastructure under France's Presidency). Jose Cuesta, Senior Economist in the Poverty Reduction and Equity Group, World Bank: “Global food prices remain high and volatile affecting the poorest countries the most in a persistently troubled world economy, therefore the food crisis is not over, and we look forward at the world bank to work with the G20 to improve the transparency of the international markets, especially for food stocks, as well as improving the rapid response in coordinated way.” G-20 Focus? The G-20 are expected to address the issues of responses to food disasters, transparency, coordination, strong risk management instruments, and more investments in production. Food Price Watch, a quarterly report, emphasizes that recent floods in Thailand, worst in 50 years, could bring further uncertainty in the short run following estimated production losses of between 16 to 24 percent of total production. Further, the food crisis in the Horn of Africa continues, affecting over 13.3 million people in the region, an additional million since August, and the outlook remains uncertain. (READ – “State of Food Insecurity in World 2011” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/state-of-food-insecurity-in-world-2011-un-report-by-ambassador-mo/36153 ) High Energy Prices Affecting Food as Well as Floods & Drought: “There are multiple concerns, the first one is that oil prices may affect food prices because of the unrest in the Middle East, also the price of fertilizers remains very high. Floods in Thailand may affect prices of rice, which have been increasing for the last five months and last but not last least fears of global crisis may also affect food prices differently, across different developing countries, “ says Cuesta. Almost $2 Billion Initiative for Horn of Africa: “The situation in the Horn of African is still dramatic, we estimate that 13 million people are affected, which is one more million than in August, in addition one region in Somalia has been declared in a famine state also in Sudan in the blue Nile state, there is an outbreak of conflict that my also deteriorate the situation, on the positive side the situation in Ethiopia and Kenya has improved and we expect that at by the end of the year the status goes from emergency to crisis, ” according to Cuesta. The three-phase initiative includes an initial emergency phase first focused on protecting lives such as providing critical safety nets in affected communities and putting in place cash for work programs. Second phase aims to strengthen livelihood recovery by boosting crop and livestock production. Third phase that emphasizes reinforcing and amplifying the Bank’s long-standing focus on building drought resilience and preparedness. Will This Reach Top of G-20 Agenda? Middle Classes Affected & Social Discontent: The G-20 support is necessary in supporting the bank’s efforts/funding. Also, the G-20 need to augment the G-20 efforts through their own national aid programs. However, one wonders if the food emergency and those most vulnerable to it, particularly the under-represented poor, will be able to elbow in on the primary G-20 agenda in view of such other topics more directly affecting the developed and emerging economies: Euro crisis and global economic stagnation. However, the food crisis is reaching the developed and developing states’ citizens as well. Squeeze is felt by middle as well as poorer classes and it is one instigator for social discontent and flares of unrest. READ – “Food Shortages & Price Spikes Coming” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/food-shortages-prices-spikes-coming-by-ambassador-mo/28468 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Facebook – Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect”

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 International Financial Crisis Channel - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/international-financial-crisis