As I reported in an earlier post (“Perfect Storm” in the making) on 14 March of this year, the acute rise in food prices is causing increased turmoil around the world. Two brief news pieces in yesterday’s Raleigh News & Observer seem to confirm my prognosis.

The first news piece is “hunger goup issues plea.” Although the piece is barely two column inches in length, it is frighteningly stark, with huge ramifications.

The World Food Program has now issued an “extraordinary emergency appeal” to cover their rising costs. The need is critical. Unless donor nations respond with more financial support, the United Nations agency will have to drastically cut food aid to those depending on the World Food Program for survival.

Soaring food prices (now up over 41% since October 2007), coupled with rising fuel costs have created a growing deficit. There will be a $500 million funding gap by May 1 according to WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran. The poor around the world are being “priced out of the food market,” Sheeran said.

The second piece, a little larger than the report on the WFP’s “extraordinary emergency appeal,” is “Bread shortage roils Egypt.” The subtitle is “at least seven have died in lines.”

Clashes and fighting have been occuring in Egyptian breadlines due to the increasing shortage of subsidized bread. “The turmoil in the world’s most populous Arab country, a top US ally, is a stark sign of how rising world food prices are roiling poorer countries.”

Some of the poor who depend on the subsidized bread are now waiting over four hours a day for bread. “Our life has become so miserable,” one told a reporter.

The article points out that opposition and independent parties are using the bread shortage to attack the current government. This isn’t surprising. Food shortages in poor countries definitely create an enviroment ripe for political instability and unrest.

The “perfect storm” is building. And it is already leaving a trail of dead in its wake. Stay tuned for more storm updates.