The sudden surge in the US dollar exacerbated the issue of world hunger, seeing more food piling up at ports due to importers' inability to pay for it.
As a result of high interest rates, a strengthening US dollar and a surge in commodity prices, countries that rely on food imports are struggling to pay for goods in dollar terms.
Dwindling foreign currency reserves have in most cases reduced access to dollars, and banks have been slow to issue payments.
Among the most affected are Africa and some Asian countries. In Ghana, for example, importers are warning of possible food shortages ahead of Christmas.
While in Pakistan, thousands of containers full of food were reported stranded at the port, while bakers in Egypt were forced to increase the price of bread after several flour mills ran out of wheat due to being stuck at customs.
In fact, these problems are not new for many countries, but declining purchasing power and a lack of dollars have added to wider pressures across the global food system.
Previously, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had warned of a food emergency that might worsen the crisis that occurred in 2007-2008.
