A/HRC/9/23 page 33 11. International agencies mobilized their efforts in order to address the most immediate needs - those of the hungry of course, but also those of the farmers who, because of the increase in the prices of agricultural inputs, were unable to prepare for the next harvests. In December 2007, the FAO launched its Initiative on Soaring Food Prices (ISFP). It seeks to offer technical and policy assistance to poor countries affected by high food prices in order to help farmers improve production by facilitating access to inputs such as improved seeds, organic and inorganic fertilizer and water. Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mozambique and Senegal were the first countries benefiting from the ISFP; by June 2008, 54 countries were covered, for a total amount of 23.8 million US$. This sum is largely insufficient, and it should be complemented by other partners. According to FAO, the countries most affected, especially in Africa, will need at least a total of US$ 1.7 billion for short-term measures during 2008-2009 just in order to start reviving their agricultural systems. In this regard, ISFP should play a catalytic role. In March 2008, the World Food Programme launched an emergency appeal for 755 million US$, in order to cover the incremental costs of its original 2008 work programme, taking into account the increase in the prices of food and fuel ; the appeal gathered 1.2 billion US$, including 500 million US$ from Saudi Arabia. In June 2008, 81 million beneficiaries required food assistance, bringing the total cost of 2008 activities with 4.9 metric tons of food to just over US$ 4.78 billion. However, it is estimated that the WFP’s requirements for food assistance programs have increased to approximately US$ 6 billion annually, as a result of the global food crisis. And on 25 April 2008, the International Fund for Agricultural Development announced it would make available up to 200 million US$ from existing loans and grants to provide an immediate boost to agricultural production in the developing world. This sum could be increased soon, since IFAD has identified 800 million US$ in undisbursed fund that might be suitable for reprogramming in order to boost production by providing essential inputs to farmers. 12. In order to assist countries to face their balance of payments difficulties, the International Monetary Fund provided additional balance of payments support by augmented access to 12 countries under Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangements, with the first in early January 2008.60 Discussions are ongoing, at the time of writing, about loosening the conditions for access to the Exogenous Shocks Facility (ESF) and the non-concessional Compensatory Financing Facility (CFF). 13. Important though as they are, these initiatives would have been even more effective if they could have begun earlier, prior to the first uncoordinated reactions, including hoarding by traders speculating on higher prices and the imposition of export restrictions by net-food-exporting States. Although governments responded speedily to the emergency appeal of the WFP, it is simply unacceptable that, in order to act effectively in the face of such a crisis, international agencies have to spend weeks calling upon international donors in order to fund their response programmes: it is as if the firefighters were being recruited after the fire has started. 14. A second phase opened with a number of high-level meetings which sought to improve coordination between the agencies involved in addressing the global food crisis and, in part 60 The total amount disbursed amounts to some SDR 143 million, about double the access under outstanding loans.