[originaltext] The UN Agency, The World Food Program, says (26) Iraq is faci

The UN Agency, The World Food Program, says (26) Iraq is facing a food crisis which is causing enormous damage to its population, especially its children. The agency said more and more Iraqis were spending their whole days struggling to find food for survival and the social fabric of the nation was disintegrating. It is said that an entire generation of children was being harmed irreparably and the country was at a point of no return. (28)WFP says that 60% of Iraq’s population, that’s 12 million people, are struggling to survive because of food shortages. Food for the average family costs the equivalent of $ 26 a month. The devaluation of the Iraqi Dinar means that few can afford this. Levels of severe malnutrition among children under five now compare with the Sub-Sahara in Africa. The infant mortality rate has risen by more than 700% compared with that before the Gulf War. Many donor states say the Baghdad government should take the blame for this because it refuses to raise money for food by selling oil through the UN as the sanction rules allow. (27)WFP is asking for 122 million dollars to help feed 2 million people, mostly those under five or over seventy. That’s double the size of last year’s program although the agency says it’s still a fraction of the real need. WFP also acknowledges that it’s unlikely that the governments around the world will respond fully to this appeal.