These are just the latest sources of concern in a turbulent period that began two years ago when food shortages hit many countries in Africa and Asia due to a worldwide spike in prices. Higher food prices meant that poor people, already struggling to meet basic human needs, were pushed deeper into poverty.
这只是动荡时期最新出现的忧虑因素，粮食动荡始于两年前，当时全球范围的价格猛涨导致非洲和亚洲的很多国家面临着粮食短缺的袭击。 粮食价格上涨意味着已经难以满足人类基本需求的穷人被更深地推入了贫困的境地。 不久全球金融危机又接踵而来，贫困人口再次受到了最沉重的打击。