Japan announces US$50 million in food aid for developing nations to fight soaring prices

Japan announced Friday it will provide US$50 million in new emergency food aid to help developing countries cope with the impact of soaring food prices.

Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Tokyo will distribute the aid by October, in addition to US$200 million it had already pledged to help fight the global food crisis.

The crisis is expected to be a top item on the agenda of the Group of Eight summit, which Japan is hosting on the northern island of Hokkaido July 7-9.

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