[ad_1]
OSLO. The decision came as a huge surprise: this year’s Nobel Peace Prize goes to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). The UN organization will be recognized for its efforts to combat hunger and food insecurity, the Nobel Prize Committee justified the long-awaited award.
Berit Reiss-Andersen, from the Norwegian Nobel Committee, emphasized that the WFP was challenged in times of the corona pandemic, as the number of hungry people has increased dramatically: “Until the day we have a medical vaccine, food is the best vaccine against chaos. “
The World Food Program (WFP) was visibly surprised by the € 958,000 prize: “I think this is the first time in my life that I have no words,” said WFP Executive Director David Beasley in a first reaction. The award is recognition for both employees and the many volunteers from around the world.
According to its own information, WFP provides food to 97 million people in 88 countries. Every ninth person in the world does not have enough to eat. 265 million people die of malnutrition each year. WFP was founded in Rome in 1961. In addition to the eight major donor country liaison offices, there are more than 70 country offices around the world where WFP coordinates work on the ground. The UN agency helps mainly after natural disasters, droughts or violent conflicts. The organization also operates in areas with a persistent deficient food situation and carries out development projects there.
The Nobel Prize was received with high praise around the world. The EU is “proud” to be one of the main contributors to WFP’s global cooperation, which is paying off, highlighted EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrel. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen also congratulates “from the heart”. With its goal of fighting hunger in the world, the World Food Program saves lives every day, ”he wrote on Twitter.
A total of 211 individuals and 107 organizations were nominated for the award this year. One of the favorites was Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. In the betting houses, it was changed as one of the favorites along with the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize, established by the Swedish inventor of dynamite Alfred Nobel, who died in 1896, is considered the most important political prize in the world. A committee consisting of five members annually honors personalities or organizations for “their services to humanity.”
The peace prize is the only one of the Nobel prizes to be awarded in December in Oslo, Norway, rather than in Sweden’s capital Stockholm, this year for the hundredth time.
The Nobel Prize is endowed with ten million Swedish crowns (about 950,000 euros).
Last year, the Nobel Peace Prize went to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who was honored for his initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighboring Eritrea.
Austrians have received the award twice: in 1905 the writer and pacifist Bertha von Suttner and in 1911 the journalist Alfred Hermann Fried.
