WFP, Govt to hold fun walk in fight against hunger

The United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP), in cooperation with several private companies and the Coordinating People's Welfare Ministry, has announced plans to organize the "End Hunger: Walk the World," event on Monday, May 29.

The walk, to be commence in the East Senayan parking lot, is intended to increase awareness and raise money to feed hungry school children of the poorest countries in the world, an executive with WFP said in a press conference on Wednesday in Jakarta.

“Hunger and malnutrition are the biggest threats to global health worldwide, and are responsible for one-third of all deaths in children under the age of five in the developing world,” said Peter Guest, the deputy country director of WFP Indonesia.

Andries Sabarini, the head of the WFP Indonesia partnership, said the funds would be given to more than 135,000 children in East Java, East and West Nusa Tenggara under the program for one year.

He added that the focus of the program was on the eastern parts of Indonesia.

“According to our data, these areas suffer most from food shortages,” he said.

The press conference was also attended by deputy to the coordinating people's welfare minister overseeing health and family planning, Emil Agustiono. (aaa)