Program to curb hunger wins Nobel Peace Prize
The United Nations World Food Program was awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Friday for its campaign to combat hunger around the world as well as efforts to address surging needs amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Rome-based organization was honored for its “contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict,” said Berit Reiss-Andersen, the chair of the Nobel Committee.
“In the face of the pandemic, the World Food Program has demonstrated an impressive ability to intensify its efforts,” he added.
Last year, the World Food Program provided assistance to nearly 100 million people across 88 countries suffering from food insecurity and hunger. The organization is also the UN’s largest specialized agency and the world’s biggest humanitarian group addressing the issue of hunger.
“With this year’s award, the (committee) wishes to turn the eyes of the world to the millions of people who suffer from or face the threat of hunger,” said Andersen, announcing the award in Oslo.
“The World Food Program plays a key role in multilateral cooperation on making food security an instrument of peace.”
While the World Food Program works with nations all over the world, its recent areas of focus have been curbing hunger and famine in Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan — where it’s battling conflict, poverty and climate change.
The World Food Program has repeatedly blamed climate change for killing of crops and ultimately fueling hunger around the world. Earlier this year, David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Program, warned the UN Security Council that the globe was “on the brink of a hunger pandemic” that could spark “multiple famines of biblical proportions” if immediate action wasn’t taken.
In a phone interview with the Associated Press from Niger on Friday, Beasley said he was “shocked and surprised” by the win.