Nobel Peace Prize 2020 awarded to the World Food Programme

The Nobel Peace Prize 2020 has been awarded to the World Food Programme (WFP) for its efforts to combat hunger. The decision was taken by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been honoured with the prestigious prize for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.

Deepest thanks @NobelPrize for honouring the World Food Programme with the 2020 #NobelPeacePrize.

This is a powerful reminder to the world that peace and #ZeroHunger go hand-in-hand. https://t.co/1CYXPcnvlF

— World Food Programme (@WFP) October 9, 2020

The Norwegian Nobel Committee stated that the need for international solidarity and multilateral cooperation is more conspicuous than ever now.

The statement from the committee read that the World Food Programme contributes daily to advancing the fraternity among nations, as referred to in Alfred Nobel’s will. Further, the WFP, which is UN’s largest specialised agency, is a modern version of the peace congresses that the Nobel Peace Prize aims to promote.

The World Food Programme contributes daily to advancing the fraternity of nations referred to in Alfred Nobel’s will. As the UN’s largest specialised agency, @WFP is a modern version of the peace congresses that the #NobelPeacePrize is intended to promote.#NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/ydWmtPLIAn

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2020

Significance

World Food Programme plays a huge key role in multilateral cooperation on making food security an instrument of peace. It has also made a strong contribution towards mobilising UN Member States to combat the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.

2020 #NobelPrize laureate, 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 Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2020

The Nobel Committee noted that the coronavirus pandemic has contributed to a strong upsurge in the number of victims of hunger in the world. During this adversity, the World Food Programme has  demonstrated an impressive ability to intensify its efforts.

The coronavirus pandemic has contributed to a strong upsurge in the number of victims of hunger in the world. In the face of the pandemic, 2020 #NobelPrize laureate the World Food Programme @WFP has demonstrated an impressive ability to intensify its efforts.#NobelPeacePrize pic.twitter.com/DnMLqFO9P4

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2020

World Food Programme

• The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation that aims to address the issue of hunger and promote food security.

The World Food Programme – awarded the 2020 #NobelPeacePrize – is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation addressing hunger and promoting food security. In 2019, @WFP provided assistance to close to 100 million people in 88 countries.#NobelPrize

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2020

• The programme had assisted around 100 million people in 88 countries, who are victims of acute food insecurity and hunger, in 2019. Eradicating hunger is one of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which was adopted in 2015.

• The World Food Programme is UN's main arm to fulfil this goal. The Hunger situation has turned worse in recent years with around 135 million people suffering from acute hunger in 2019. This was the highest number in many years, most of it a result of war and armed conflict.

Nobel Peace Prize 2019

The Nobel Peace Prize 2019 was awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for his efforts to resolve 20-year-long border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.