The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced today that the World Food Programme will receive the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is awarded the Prize “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, the Nobel Peace Prize Committee chair Berit Reiss Andersen said in her announcement.
David Beasley, WFP Executive Director, said the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize is a “humbling, moving recognition of the work of WFP staff.”
He said that every one of the 690 million hungry people in the world today has the right to live peacefully and without hunger.
“Today, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has turned the global spotlight on them and on the devastating consequences of conflict. Climate shocks and economic pressures have further compounded their plight. And now, a global pandemic with its brutal impact on economies and communities, is pushing millions more to the brink of starvation,” Mr. Beasly said in a statement.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he is delighted by the decision of the Nobel Committee and warmly congratulate David Beasley, WFP Executive Director, and the entire staff of the World Food Programme.
“The World Food Programme is the world’s first responder on the frontlines of food insecurity. 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.
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,” the UN Secretary-General said in a statement.
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
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