The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) was on Friday awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to combat hunger.
In awarding the 2020 prize, the Nobel Committee also noted that the WFP had acted as a “driving force” in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.
In a statement, the Committee said it wished to “turn the eyes of the world towards the millions of people who suffer from or face the threat of hunger.”
“The World Food Programme plays a key role in multilateral cooperation on making food security an instrument of peace, and has made a strong contribution towards mobilising UN Member States to combat the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict. The organisation contributes daily to advancing the fraternity of nations referred to in Alfred Nobel’s will,” the statement read in part.
WFP is the largest humanitarian organization in the world that addresses hunger and promotes food security.
The Nobel Committee indicated that the coronavirus pandemic had worsened a hunger crisis faced by millions of people around the world, calling on governments to ensure that WFP and other aid organisations receive the financial support necessary to feed them.
“In the face of the pandemic, the World Food Programme has demonstrated an impressive ability to intensify its efforts. As the organisation itself has stated, “Until the day we have a medical vaccine, food is the best vaccine against chaos,” the committee said.
WFP executive director David Beasley said the award was a recognition of the work done by the staff who put their lives on the line every day to bring food and assistance to more than 100 million hungry children, women and men across the world.
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.
Thank you @NobelPrize for this incredible honor! pic.twitter.com/bHcS0usWQa
— Cindy McCain (@WFPChief) October 9, 2020
