“The need for international solidarity and multilateral cooperation is more evident than ever.” Thus began Berit Reiss-Andersen, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, as announced by the winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize: the World Food Program (WFP).
WFP is the United Nations’ largest specialized agency, with a focus on fighting hunger and promoting food security, a task that often involves peace efforts in countries like Yemen and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His work is always important, but the committee decided his role was even more crucial given the coronavirus pandemic.
“The pandemic reinforces the reasons for the award,” Reiss-Andersen said, adding that there has been an increase in the number of people living on the brink of starvation.
Reiss-Andersen, who described hunger as “one of the world’s oldest weapons of conflict,” also made clear that the committee’s decision was aimed at “asking the international community not to underfund the World Program. Food [and] ensuring that people don’t starve. “
With current funding for the program, he warned, about 265 million people will go hungry in one year.
The committee considered 318 candidates when deciding who should receive the most prestigious award in the world. The list is confidential, although this year it is known that presentations were made for climate activist Greta Thunberg, the World Health Organization, Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul and US President Donald Trump. . . . . . .
“Multilateralism seems to have a lack of respect these days and the Nobel Committee wants to emphasize this aspect,” Reiss-Andersen said.
