The World Food Program, an agency of the United Nations, was awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to combat hunger in regions affected by war and famine. During 2019, the World Food Program assisted 100 million at risk of starvation in 88 nations.
Berit Reiss-Andersen, the Chair of the Norweigen Nobel Committee, stated, “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.” He added, “The World Food Program plays a key role in multilateral cooperation on making food security an instrument of peace.”
In the official statement accompanying the award, the Nobel Peace Committee emphasized the need for global solidarity and cooperation “at a time of increasing polarization and go-it-alone nationalism.”