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Editor's Note:
Last spring the World
Food Program (WFP), faced with a mounting global hunger
crisis, issued an urgent appeal for help. King
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia responded with a $500 million
contribution. United Nations Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon called it a "contribution of an
unprecedented size and generosity" and that it came
"not a moment too soon, given the needs of millions
of people dependent on food rations," according to
a spokesman.
 The
appeal raised a total of $755 million to meet the
immediate needs of the world's almost one billion hungry
people, according to WFP, which said in a
statement: "The money raised from WFP�s appeal in response to
high food prices is supporting an additional 23 million
beneficiaries in 24 countries in programs which
include: Extending school feeding to children through school
holidays and using schools as a platform to provide take
home rations to vulnerable families � education
projects have reached 2.6 million children in six
countries: Haiti, Liberia, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra
Leone and Tajikistan. Providing supplementary rations of nutritious food to
malnourished children and women � 130,000 malnourished
children in seven countries: Djibouti, Ghana, Guinea,
Haiti, Liberia, Senegal and Tajikistan, started their
nutrition interventions; another 11 countries are about
to start implementation.
Last week the WFP honored
King Abdullah at the World Economic Forum with its
annual "World Champion in the Battle Against
Hunger" award. Today we provide details
courtesy of the SPA.
World Food Program Honors King Abdullah
The World Food Program
(WFP) has awarded its "World Champion in the Battle Against Hunger for 2008" Prize to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at a ceremony held [Jan 31] in
Davos, Switzerland, in which many representatives of states, governments, global organizations and big companies took part.
 On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdullah
Zainal Alireza, received the prize handed over by the Executive Director of WFP Josette
Sheeran.
In a speech to mark the event, she expressed great thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for his support for WFP, citing his generous donation of $500 million.
She described the king's gesture as a beacon of hope for the poorest and most needy in the world.
For his part, the Minister of Commerce and Industry delivered a speech at the ceremony in which he said "I am honored to receive this distinguished award on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who, by accepting it, dispatches a broad message to the world that we have to bear a shared responsibility to combat hunger, which is of urgent importance in the light of the current economic crisis and its impacts".
Fighting hunger is one of the priorities of human rights and a noble goal to which the King of Humanity is leading us,
Alireza said, in reference to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
A number of dignitaries, representatives of states, governments, international organizations and renowned global companies then expressed thanks to and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for his humanitarian initiative and generous stances witnessed by everyone.
Former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan and Saudi Ambassador to Switzerland Hazem bin Mohammed Kriqtly were among the most prominent speakers at the ceremony.
For his part, the Saudi Minister of Finance Dr. Ibrahim
Al-Assaf said, "This prize is an appreciation of and gratitude to the support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to WFP.
In a statement to the Saudi TV, Al-Assaf said that the donation worth $500 million by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to WFP is one of the largest individual donations to WFP and has helped many poor countries, especially those suffering from food shortages in Africa, in particular.
Source:
SPA
About the World Food
Program
 WFP is the food aid arm of the United Nations system. Food aid is one of the many instruments that can help to promote food security, which is defined as access of all people at all times to the food needed for an active and healthy life.
The policies governing the use of World Food Programme food aid must be oriented towards the objective of eradicating hunger and poverty. The ultimate objective of food aid should be the elimination of the need for food aid.
Targeted interventions are needed to help to improve the lives of the poorest people - people who, either permanently or during crisis periods, are unable to produce enough food or do not have the resources to otherwise obtain the food that they and their households require for active and healthy lives.
Consistent with its mandate, which also reflects the principle of universality, WFP will continue to:
- use food aid to support economic and social development;
- meet refugee and other emergency food needs, and the associated logistics support; and
- promote world food security in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations and FAO.
The core policies and strategies that govern WFP activities are to provide food aid:
- to save lives in refugee and other emergency situations;
- to improve the nutrition and quality of life of the most vulnerable people at critical times in their lives; and
- to help build assets and promote the self-reliance of poor people and communities, particularly through labour-intensive works programmes.
Source: WFP
(Complete mission statement)
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