Global food aid deliveries of 5.7 million mt in 2009 were the lowest since 1961: programme food aid declined by 25 percent, emergency food aid by 12 percent and project food aid by 6 percent.

The declining trend in food aid contrasts with the rapid increase in recent years in official development assistance, which rose in real terms from US$107 billion in 2005 – itself an historic high – to US$119.8 billion in 2008, the highest level ever, and US$119.6 billion in 2009.

Estimates of global hunger suggest that 1.02 billion people were undernourished in 2009 – the highest number on record. The global economic crisis and rising food prices have contributed to the surge in world hunger, which was exacerbated by 245 natural disasters affecting 58 million people; extreme weather linked to climate change is likely to increase people’s vulnerability.

The annual WFP Food Aid Flows Report gives an overview of trends in global food aid deliveries by governments, non-governmental organizations and WFP.