The UN World Food Program (WFP) has been awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.
The Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee in Oslo has made a decision: The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize goes to the "World Food Program", the most important UN organization in the fight against global hunger and for better peace conditions in conflict regions. The committee announced this Friday (October 9th).
"The work of the World Food Program for the benefit of mankind is an endeavor that all nations of the world should recognize and support," said the committee's statement. The WFP is the world's largest humanitarian organization to fight hunger and promote food security. In 2019, the WFP supported nearly 100 million people in 88 countries who are victims of acute hunger.
Efforts in the Corona crisis recognized
In view of the corona pandemic, the World Food Program has intensified its efforts in an impressive way. "As the organization itself once stated: 'Until the day we have a medical vaccine, food is the best vaccine against chaos'."
The Nobel Peace Prize is endowed with around 1.1 million dollars (around 930,000 euros) and will be awarded on December 10th in Oslo – on the anniversary of the death of the prize's founder, Alfred Nobel (1833-1896). Last year, the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (44) received an award. 317 candidates were in the running this year – including 210 personalities and 107 organizations. Climate activist Greta Thunberg (17) was also nominated again.