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D. Beasley: Address to Rally of Hope VI
Written by David Beasley, Executive Director, World Food Programme
Sunday, May 9, 2021
Address to Rally of Hope VI
May 9, 2021
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, friends all over the world, it is a pleasure to join you again for this latest Rally of Hope, which brings together people of faith in an effort to solve some of the critical global challenges we face. I would like to thank Dr. Moon and her team for making this event possible. This Rally is reaching across continents, uniting people all over the world in a spirit of peace, mutual prosperity, and public service. It highlights the importance of everyone coming together to work for peace around the world.
I know that the dream of peace throughout the Korean Peninsula is shared by millions of men, women and children on both sides of the border, and by people everywhere. Congratulations on the launch of Think Tank 2022 at this Rally of Hope—which will form expert working groups in various fields of expertise, all working to find the best pathways for the peaceful development of Korea. At the World Food Programme, we know from our work that where there is conflict, hunger is never far behind. But where there is peace, fewer children go hungry, and they have hope for a brighter tomorrow. For those of you not familiar with our work, the World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency working to end global hunger.
Last year, we reached a hundred and fifteen million people in over eighty countries with food assistance. We exist to serve our brothers and sisters in need— wherever they may be. Last October, we were truly honored to be awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of our efforts to foster peace and healing in a troubled world.
At WFP, we have a long history of partnership and cooperation with the peoples of the Korean Peninsula. For many years we have worked with the governments of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Korea, to ensure that every child—no matter where she or he lives—has healthy, nutritious food to eat. WFP has been present in DPRK since 1995. We provide specialized nutritious foods for mothers and children under the age of 12, which are distributed to kindergartens, schools, orphanages, and hospitals across the country.
We still have a very long way to go before every child, in every part of the world, has enough to eat. But the Republic of Korea’s story gives me hope for the future. WFP started working in the country way back in 1964, in the aftermath of the Korean War, and for twenty years we supported the Korean people with food assistance. During this period, the country rebuilt itself from the ground up. In just one generation, the Republic of Korea went from aid recipient to aid donor. Today, it is WFP’s eleventh largest government supporter. This is an inspirational journey which proves that with commitment and hard work, eradicating hunger is achievable. It is a tremendous example of everything we strive for at WFP.
Our task has undoubtedly been made harder over the past year by the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. But this unprecedented crisis is also our chance to show that we will love our neighbor and work as one to create the better and more peaceful world we all want to see. This is how we will solve the complex problems that exist in the world today. So, let us come together and build a global community based on freedom, faith, family and service, one that supports human dignity and truly values the life of every single man, woman and child. We can all contribute to this mission. And if we work together, in partnership, I truly believe we will one day achieve our dream of a world free from hunger and conflict. When people come together to pray, miracles happen. So, let us all pray together for peace and healing on the Korean Peninsula, and around the world.
God bless you all and thank you.
Hon. David Beasley is executive director of World Food Programme.
To go to the Dialogue and Alliance: Toward a Unified World of Peace, Part Two, click here.