UN and World Bank to tackle food crisis

UN agencies and the World Bank pledged yesterday to set up a task force to tackle an unprecedented rise in global food prices that is threatening to spread social unrest.

The international bodies called on countries not to restrict exports of food to secure supplies at home, warning that could make the problem worse.

"We consider that the dramatic escalation in food prices worldwide has evolved into an unprecedented challenge of global proportions," the United Nations said in a statement.