The United Nations’ World Food Program recently won the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to combat hunger and food insecurity around the globe. The Rome-based organization assisted almost 100 million people in 88 countries around the world last year.

“With this year’s award, the (committee) wishes to turn the eyes of the world to the millions of people who suffer from or face the threat of hunger,” said Berit Reiss-Andersen, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, announcing the award in Oslo. “The World Food Program plays a key role in multilateral cooperation in making food security an instrument of peace.” WFP contributes daily to advancing the fraternity of nations mentioned in Alfred Nobel’s will, she added.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said the WFP had “demonstrated an impressive ability to intensify its efforts.” “In countries such as Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, South Sudan and Burkina Faso, the combination of violent conflict and the pandemic has led to a dramatic rise in the number of people living on the brink of starvation,” it said.  Indeed, the WFP itself had stated: “Until the day we have a medical vaccine, food is the best vaccine against chaos.”

The Nobel Committee called on governments to ensure that WFP and other aid organizations receive the financial support necessary to feed millions in countries such as Yemen, Congo, Nigeria, South Sudan and Burkina Faso. WFP has consistently blamed climate change for fueling hunger and wreaking havoc on crops. Beasley warned the U.N. Security Council in April that the world was “on the brink of a hunger pandemic” that could lead to “multiple famines of biblical proportions” within a few months if immediate action wasn’t taken.

The United Nations had recognised ‘Zero Hunger’ as the second goal of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 which are to be achieved by the year 2030. “There are 821 million people estimated to be chronically undernourished as of 2017, often as a direct consequence of environmental degradation, drought and biodiversity loss,” as per the United Nation’s website. A recent report by the UN says that an additional 83 to 132 million people have been pushed into hunger due to the ongoing health crisis.

The World Food Programme has consciously worked towards this goal by providing sustenance to up to 100 million people living across 88 countries. The body has worked towards not just reducing hunger, but humanitarian efforts to restore peace and stability in areas of conflict. Its work is even more commendable keeping in mind the scores of people who went hungry during the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.