Blogcritics Author: William Lambers

Interview: Domingos Afonso Ndedica, World Food Programme, Angola

William Lambers — Tue, 6 Jan 2009 04:57:35 EST

The Government of Angola is now budgeting for a countrywide school feeding program.
Angola is recovering from a 27-year-long civil war that ended in 2002. Twenty-eight percent of this African nation's population is living in extreme poverty. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) reports that "many communities have little or no access to basic social services." Initiatives to fight poverty, like school feeding, take on a...

School Lunches for Peace in Iraq

William Lambers — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:31:25 EST

There has been no systematic school feeding in Iraq since the WFP suspended their programme in September 2006.
President Dwight Eisenhower once said, "The world cups its ear to hear the rattling of rockets. It listens less closely to the sounds of peace and well-being which emanate from the slow but steady improvement in world health and nutrition."These words ring true even today. When we listen to news reports from Iraq, seldom do we hear about the fight...

Obama Needs a Global Hunger Advisor on Foreign Policy Team

William Lambers — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:22:43 EST

A U.S. hunger czar could work on Food for Peace initiatives around the world.
On May 20, 1946 a man walked into an emergency food collection center in Cincinnati, Ohio to make a donation. Cincinnati, like many cities and towns, was trying to help people in Europe and Asia suffering from food shortages in the aftermath of World War II. The man gave 30 dollars to help this effort. This may not seem like much money today, but...

Food for Education Program Fights Hunger and Poverty in Pakistan

William Lambers — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:05:10 EST

Education, even in limited forms, provides the key for the poorest individuals to break out of the poverty cycle.
In Pakistan, "almost 85 percent of the population live on a marginal income of less than US$ 2 per day," according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Food for Education is a key strategy for helping the impoverished in this nation of over 140 million people, most living in rural areas. Food for Education programs provide school...

Interview: Salman Omer of the World Food Programme in Yemen

William Lambers — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:51:23 EST

In some countries, students attend school solely because there is a food incentive.
The country of Yemen borders Saudi Arabia and Oman. It is one of the world's least developed countries. According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) "over 40 percent of the country's 19.7 million people struggle to live on less than US$2 per day." Food for Education is one of the critical programs WFP operates in Yemen. Lets look at...

Interview: Purnima Kashyap of the World Food Programme in Zambia

William Lambers — Mon, 1 Dec 2008 21:03:56 EST

Soaring food prices have directly affected the school feeding programme in Zambia.
Zambia, ranked 165th on the Human Development Index, is one of the world’s poorest countries. Zambia’s population of 12.8 million is faced with one of the highest adult HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world (16.5%). The recurrent droughts and floods experienced in recent years, particularly in southern Zambia - Eastern, Southern,...

Interview: Sheila Grudem, Deputy Country Director of the World Food Programme in Tanzania

William Lambers — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:18:52 EST

This "silent hunger", which often goes unnoticed, is the reason the Food For Education program was initiated.
Located in East Africa, the country of Tanzania has over 58 percent of its population living on less than $1 per day according to the “United Nations World Food Programme“ (WFP). Droughts and the impact of AIDS have contributed to poverty in Tanzania, with children being the most vulnerable. WFP runs school feeding programs as part of...

Interview: Abdoulaye Balde, Country Director of the World Food Programme in Swaziland

William Lambers — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:00:21 EST

Education is a fundamental basis for freedom, democracy, and self-esteem.
In Southern Africa, the country of Swaziland has food shortages due to poor harvests in recent years. Drought, high fuel costs, and the prevalence of AIDS have contributed to these shortages. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is helping the children of Swaziland through school feeding programs. Abdoulaye Balde, WFP Country Director for...

Interview: Guy Gauvreau, World Food Programme Country Director for Peru

William Lambers — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:15:19 EST

For many, the school feeding meal is the most important and nutritionally balanced meal of the day.
In Peru, "6.5 million (25 percent) [of the] people are classified as being extremely poor because they live on less than $1 per day,” according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). WFP runs programs in the country to help those suffering in poverty.Earlier this decade, WFP ran school feeding programs to help combat child...

Interview: Stephen Anderson of the UN World Food Programme, Philippines

William Lambers — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:55:13 EST

At assisted schools, WFP food support has increased enrollment by 40 percent.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is doing its part to support the peace process in Mindanao, the southern Muslim-populated region of the Philippines. In Mindanao many people have been displaced by the conflict between the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Malnutrition rates are also high in the area, which makes...