Oslo, Oct 9 (UNI) The Nobel Peace Prize 2020 was on Friday awarded to the United Nations food agency, the World Food Programme (WFP) for its efforts to combat hunger, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.
"The WFP had acted as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict," the committee said in a statement.
The UN food agency, just after the announcement, said it was "deeply humbled". The organisation is also the 101th winner of the Peace price, making the occasion more special.
"This is in recognition of the work of 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," the WEO said on Twitter.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee Chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen in a press conference here, said the committee wanted to "turn the eyes of the world to the millions of people who suffer from or face the threat of hunger."
"The World Food Programme plays a key role in multilateral co-operation in making food security an instrument of peace," Ms Andersen said.
She said COVID-19 pandemic was also instrumental in making everyone realise the importance of food.
"The coronavirus pandemic has contributed to a strong upsurge in the number of victims of hunger in the world," the committee said in a statement.
"In the face of the pandemic, the World Food Programme has demonstrated an impressive ability to intensify its efforts," it added.
In 2019, the WFP provided assistance to close to 100 million people in 88 countries who are victims of acute food insecurity and hunger.
The prize is worth 10m Swedish krona will be presented in Oslo on December 10. As per the committee, as many as 211 individuals and 107 organisations were nominated for the prize this year. As per the rules, nomination shortlists are not published for 50 years and any speculation ahead of the announcement is "sheer guesswork".
The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, whose peace deal with Eritrea ended a 20-year military stalemate following their 1998-2000 border war.
The most prestigious award is awarded to people "who have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind". The award was started in accordance with the will of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, with the first award handed out in 1901.
UNI PS/JAL 1630