Countries pledge billions to fight global hunger

ROME: Delegates at the Rome Food Security Summit have pledged billions of dollars to the fight against global hunger, WAM news agency reported on Saturday.

"The money will benefit countries hard hit by the current world food crisis, allowing them to grow enough food for themselves in the coming planting seasons, and helping them to achieve continuing food security through investment in agriculture and research", the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said.

Among the major contributors, France and the Islamic Development Bank have announced a contribution of $1.5 billion each while the World Bank has announced a contribution of $1.2 billion.

The summit is being attended by 181 nations and more than 40 heads of state.