KWW500R7150122-128RTTNews) - The United Nations has said it is facing a "dangerous and unprecedented" shortfall in budgetary allocations for its World Food Program (WFP) that is likely to affect food aid to millions of hungry poor in many countries.

WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran said this was mainly because the needs which greatly increased last year due to the food crisis had not come down, but increased, just as the numbers of hungry was rising amid global economic crisis.

She said the organization was hoping to reach 108 million persons in 74 countries this year with food aid, but the U.N. food agency was expecting to receive only USD 3.7 billion--after consultations with governments--of the the agency's 2009 budget of "assessed, approved needs" of USD 6.7 billion because pledged donations were not made good by the donors.

The WFP is funded through voluntary contributions, most of which come from governments.

"We are actively cutting USD 3 billion of our program--which means a reduction in rations and programs throughout the world, including those to the world's most vulnerable people," Sheeran told reporters in Washington ahead of meetings at the White House.

For example, in Bangladesh, home to some of the world's hungriest persons, the WFP sought to feed five million this year, but must now could help only one million. Its program set up to give