The United Nations World Food Programme, WFP, wins the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for “its efforts to combat hunger”.
The WFP defeated other nominees like U.S President, Donald Trump, presidential candidate, Joe Biden, activist Gretha Thunberg, and the press.
The United States President was seen as a strong contender following his recent role in the efforts to normalise relations between Israel and its Middle East neighbours.
The Nobel Committee Chairwoman, Berit Reiss-Andersen, said the WFP were a driving force during the pandemic as they helped prevent hunger, which could have led war and conflict.
The WFP was founded in 1961, and in 2019, they helped 97 million people , distributing 15 billion rations in 88 countries.
The UN body prides itself as “the leading humanitarian organisation” as it delivers food to the needy by helicopter, camel, or the back of an elephant.
David Beasley expressed he is deeply humbled by receiving this award, “This is in recognition of the work of the WFP staff who put their lives on the line every day to bring food and assistance to more than 100 million hungry children, women and men across the world.”
About 107 organisation were nominated and 211 individuals. The WFP became the 101st winner of the Nobel prize award.
