World Food Program Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

OSLO, KOMPAS.com – The World Food Program won the Nobel Peace Prize 2020 for its role in feeding millions of people, a crucial act during the pandemic.

For millions of those in hunger from Yemen to North Korea including the millions more pushed into hunger from the Covid-19 crisis, the WFP has lent its helping hand.

The WFP was honored 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 Nobel Peace Prize winner in Oslo.

Read also: WFP Urges the Rich to Help Prevent a ‘Hunger Pandemic’

The World Food Program prides itself on being "the leading humanitarian organization" in a world where, by its own estimates, some 690 million people — one in 11 — go to bed on an empty stomach.

It gets creative in its food delivery methods whether it has to transport food by helicopter or on the back of an elephant or a camel.

"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.

Founded in 1961, the UN organization helped 97 million people last year, distributing 15 billion rations to people in 88 countries last year.

The numbers are dizzying but only a fraction of the total number in need.

Despite making progress over the past three decades, the UN's goal to eradicate hunger by 2030 appears out of reach if current trends continue, according to experts.

Read also: Financial Woes and Coronavirus Pandemic has UN Nearing Life Support

Women and children are usually those most at risk.

War can be caused by hunger, but hunger is also a consequence of war, with people living in areas of conflict three times more likely to be undernourished than those living in countries at peace, the WFP says.

"There's no two ways about it — we can't end hunger unless we put an end to conflict," WFP executive director David Beasley said on September 21.

Famines of biblical proportions