Thousands walk to fight hunger

Accra, June 7, GNA - Hundreds of people last Sunday took up to the streets in cities around the world to show their support for operations of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in the fight against global hunger.

A statement issued by the WFP in Accra on Monday said the annual "End Hunger: Walk the World" initiative mobilised an estimated 150,000 walkers to raise awareness and funds for WFP's school meals programmes. At least 160 walks took place in 70 countries across all 24 time zones. "Walk the World unites people from all over the world with the common belief that hunger is simply unacceptable, and we must put our energy, creativity and resources behind the eradication of child malnutrition," said NguyenDuc Hoang, Head of Programme, WFP, Ghana.

The statement said "Walk the World" in its eighth year, was sponsored at the global level by three of WFP's private sector partners. These are TNT, a global mail service, Unilever, a consumer goods company and DSM, nutrition and life-science specialists. "In an incredible wave of solidarity, the world came forward to say that child hunger is totally unacceptable," said Josette Sheeren, WFP's Executive Director adding that Walk the World was an excellent example of how global partnerships, including those with the private sector could make a huge impact in the fight against hunger.

Mr Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development stressed the need for Ghana to work extra hard to achieve the Millennium Development Goals related to reducing hunger and improving health and education by 2015. In Accra, the walk started from Golden Tulip Hotel and ended at the Accra Mall. 7 June 10