Africa/Global: War main reason for world hunger, says UN

Armed conflicts and economic crises are the chief reasons for mounting world hunger, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said, while offering a grim outlook on plans to cut the number of those going hungry worldwide in half by 2015. "Peace encourages investments and allows social and economic development. Conflict destroys lives, opportunities and environments," the FAO's food security committee said as it began meeting in Rome.