Washington, D.C. – Bread for the World today celebrates news that the World Food Programme has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its for “efforts to combat hunger” and “contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas.” The WFP is the leading international organization in the world addressing global hunger.
“Bread for the World congratulates David Beasley and the World Food Programme (WFP) for its well-deserved selection as winner of the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize,” said Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World. “Bread is proud to have supported the WFP’s efforts throughout our 46-year history and will continue to do so by ensuring Congress provides it with the tools and investments it needs to alleviate global hunger.”
Conflict is a primary driver of global hunger. Every day, WFP staff are on the frontlines of combat zones and hunger helping people with the food and resources they need to survive. Without the WFP, millions of men, women, and children would die each year from hunger, malnutrition, and related effects such as childhood wasting. In addition to providing emergency assistance, WFP works to improve nutrition for women and children and build resilience in communities prone to the effects of climate changes.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 690 million people were experiencing hunger. Today, more than 270 million people stand on the brink of starvation due to COVID-19. Bread is urging the White House and Congress to resume negotiations and pass a comprehensive COVID-19 relief package that invests at least $20 billion for the global response to the pandemic, including $2 billion to address hunger and $500 million to address malnutrition.
“We are called by God to help our neighbors in need – whether they are around the corner or around the world. We hope, pray, and petition the White House and Congress will heed this call and provide the necessary investments so that the WFP, USAID, and other organizations can continue this urgent and critical work,” said Cho.
