World Food Programme wins Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to combat hunger
- The WFP was honoured ‘for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict,’ the jury said
- The UN agency distributed 15 billion rations to 97 million people in 88 countries last year
The WFP was honoured 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 in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict,” Nobel committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen said on unveiling the winner in Oslo.
Whether delivering food by helicopter or on the back of an elephant or a camel, the WFP prides itself on being “the leading humanitarian organisation” in a world where, by its own estimates, some 690 million people – one in 11 – go to bed on an empty stomach.
“With this year’s award, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to turn the eyes of the world towards the millions of people who suffer from or face the threat of hunger,” Reiss-Andersen said.
WFP executive director David Beasley said on Friday the UN agency was “deeply humbled” by winning the award, adding it had rendered him “speechless”.
“We are deeply humbled to receive the #NobelPeacePrize. This is an incredible recognition of the dedication of the @WFP family, working to end hunger everyday in 80+ countries,” he said on Twitter.