(Fuentes: FAO, Federación Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja, Cruz Roja Española).

- A comienzos de 2008, los precios mundiales de los alimentos y del petróleo se dispararon. Entre las posibles causas de esta subida vertiginosa se encontraban los efectos del cambio climático, la crisis financiera, continuadas malas cosechas en países exportadores o la producción de biocombustibles.

Los efectos fueron inmediatos. Se desencadenaron disturbios en más de treinta países y comenzó una grave crisis alimentaria

The main principles of leprosy control are the timely detection of new cases and prompt treatment with multidrug therapy (MDT). These principles are being widely implemented in all endemic countries, where MDT drugs are provided free of charge to all patients. Services for control of leprosy have been integrated into the primary health-care system at the peripheral level, and referral services are being strengthened to support integration. These referral centres will play a key role in providing specialized services for patients with complications as well

- The United States obligated more than $1 billion in support of water and sanitation

- More than $815 million was obligated to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation and promote hygiene in 95 countries worldwide

- Investments in all water and sanitation activities in Sub-Saharan Africa reached more than $648 million

- USAID's drinking water and sanitation for 7.7 million and 6.3 million people, respectively

Executive Summary

The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (the WfP Act) was signed into law on December 1, 2005.

Highlights

High food prices persist in developing countries despite an improved global cereal supply situation and sharp decline in international prices. This is affecting access to food of large numbers of low-income vulnerable populations.

A recent analysis of domestic food prices for 58 developing countries shows that latest prices are higher than a year earlier in 78 percent of the cases, and in 43 percent of the cases are higher than 3 months earlier. Mostly affected are sub-Saharan African countries.

Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Summary

The present annual report, the first submitted to the Human Rights Council by the new United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, outlines the efforts made by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to implement its mandate. It describes the support given to the work of the Council and the effective functioning of its mechanisms. In this context, it pays attention

Problem Statement/Context: The Asia Pacific region has an emergency profile characterized by a combination of natural disasters, civil/political unrest with pockets of conflict situations, and recent emerging new global threats such as high food and fuel prices crisis, the threat of pandemic influenza and other emerging diseases. In terms of natural disasters, the Asia-Pacific region is considered specifically vulnerable to floods and landslides, a yearly recurrent consequence of the seasonal rains coupled to possible formation of cyclones during the

The UN System has mobilized to provide a common response to the crisis that takes into account the comparative advantages of all stakeholders. To this end, and in implementation of the decision of the United Nations System Chief Executive Board at its meeting

- World cereal production in 2008 is forecast to increase 2.8 percent to a record 2 180 million tonnes. Most of the increase is in wheat following significant expansion in plantings in all regions. Coarse grains output is expected around the bumper level of last year but lower than earlier anticipated due to severe floods in the United States, the world's largest producer and exporter. Rice is tentatively forecast to increase slightly from last year's good level.

- Despite the anticipated increase in world output, cereal markets will remain tight in 2008/09. Total cereal

In 2007, natural and man-made disasters continued to take a toll on the lives of people. Flooding, cyclones, landslides and tropical storms have threatened lives and livelihoods on every continent. And in many parts of the world, from Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Iraq, Zimbabwe and Sudan, children and women continue to bear the brunt of conflict, displacement and deteriorating living conditions.

An important lesson learned from major emergencies is that timely and flexible funding enables humanitarian actors