The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Receives the Nobel Peace Prize

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) was awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize on 9th October 2020.

The agency was recognised for “its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.”

WFP provides life-saving food assistance to millions across the world, often in dangerous and difficult-to-access conditions, providing assistance to 97 million people in 88 countries last year. WFP operates two-thirds of its work in conflict-affected countries where people are three times more likely to be undernourished than those living in countries without conflict.

“In a world of plenty, it is unconscionable that hundreds of millions go to bed each night hungry. Millions more are now on the precipice of famine due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated the UN Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres.

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to push 265 million people into starvation within a year.

“The women and men of the WFP brave danger and distance to deliver life-saving sustenance to those devastated by conflict, to people suffering because of disaster, to children and families uncertain about their next meal,” continued the UN Secretary-General.

“There is also a hunger in our world for international cooperation. The World Food Programme feeds that need, too. WFP operates above the realm of politics, with humanitarian need driving its operations. The organization itself survives on voluntary contributions from UN Member States and the public at large,”  

“Such solidarity is precisely needed now to address not only the pandemic, but other global tests of our time. We know that existential threats such as climate change will make the hunger crisis even worse,” said Mr Guterres.

Mr David Beasley, Executive Director of WFP highlighted that the UN agency works closely with governments, organisations and the private sector, recognising the invaluable work and support of their sister agency, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).  . 

“We could not possibly help anyone without them. We are an operational agency and the daily work of our staff each day is driven by our core values of integrity, humanity and inclusion,” stated Mr Beasley.