World Food Programme wins Nobel Peace Prize

AUCKLAND: The winner of the coveted Nobel Peace Prize is The World Food Programme.

It is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation.

Last year it provided assistance to close to 1 million people in 88 countries that are victim to food insecurity and hunger.

The names of the nominees will not be released for 50 years — in accordance with the prize rules — but New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was considered to have been the running for her response to the

March 15 terror attack and spearheading New Zealand’s successful Covid19 response.

The recipient of the award was announced at a ceremony in Oslo, Norway at 10pm yesterday (New Zealand time).

The winner joins the likes of Martin Luther King jun, Nelson

Mandela, Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama.

Last year’s winner, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, presented the prize.

Peace Prize laureates receive 10 million Swedish kronor ($NZ1.71 million), a diploma and a medal made of recycled greengold, plated in 24carat gold.

Every year since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and for peace.

Three New Zealanders have become Nobel laureates. — The New Zealand Herald