‘Hunger Pandemic to Be Worse Than COVID-19’ – World Food Programme
By Zeba Tarannum
The Nobel Peace Prize awarding has been held online because of the Covid-19 and at the event, held on Thursday, 10th December, the World Food Program (WFP) warned of a “hunger pandemic” and said it could be even worse than the COVID-19 pandemic.
David Beasley, Executive Director, World Food Program, said, “Because of so many wars, climate change, the widespread use of hunger as a political and military weapon, and due to global pandemic 270 million of people are marching towards famine.”
During his speech broadcasting from WFP headquarters in Rome, he removed his mask and said, “Failure to address their basic needs will lead to a hunger pandemic which will be worse than the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.”
The largest humanitarian organization (WFP), established in 1961 under the United Nations, is fighting against famine, providing food to millions of people. The organization provided food for 97 million people in 2019.
Berit Reiss-Andersen, Chairman of the Nobel Committee, said while announcing the award on 9th October, “The WFP has been awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.”
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Nobel Committee officials completed the formal activities online by canceling the announcement of the Novel Peace Prize from Oslo and the grand arrangement of traditional award giving ceremony.
