World Bank leader joins call for food aid

updated 5:43 p.m. ET April 13, 2008

WASHINGTON - The president of the World Bank has called for immediate action to deal with mounting food prices that have caused deadly violence in several countries.

Robert Zoellick says the international community has to put its money where its mouth is and act now to help hungry people.

He is urging governments to rapidly carry out commitments to provide the U.N. World Food Program with $500 million in emergency aid it needs by May 1.

Zoellick said Sunday after a meeting of the bank's policy-setting committee that the fall of the government in Haiti over the weekend after a wave of deadly rioting and looting over food prices underscores the importance of quick international action.

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