World Food Program Wins The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize

by 48N-Developer

Rachel Stevens, FISM News

This year’s Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the World Food Program (WFP) because of its efforts to end global hunger. WFP is an organization founded in 1961 as an arm of the United Nations that supplies food to over 100 million people each year experiencing food insecurity and hunger.

The Nobel Peace Prize is a prestigious award given annually to recognize an individual or individuals who promote peace and build unifying international relationships. This year’s announcement of the winner was watched closely with anticipation, as 2020 has been marked by global division due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

At its presentation of the award in Oslo on Friday, the Nobel committee noted that the WFP is “a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.”

WFP was praised 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,” said Berit Reiss-Andersen, the chair of the Nobel Committee.

In accepting the award, WFP made clear that they believe Covid highlighted issues in the global food supply chain. The organization emphasized that instead of backing down amidst the widespread economic hardships they intensified their efforts to supply food in over 88 countries.

The WFP has been an active agent of change in Yemen, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo — areas of intense conflict and poverty.  

David Beasley, Executive Director of WFP, shared his reaction to the award on Twitter saying, “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!” 

WFP joins the ranks of previous recipients of the prize including former President Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malala Yousafzai.

Sourced from CNN, NBC, and the Nobel Peace Prize website

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