“World Food Day” 2013

Since 16 October of this year coincided with Eid al-Adha celebrations, WFP Iran commemorated this year’s World Food Day on 13 October with a star studded event at the National Library of Iran, AVA Diplomatic Reports.WFP Iran Country Director and team, Representatives from UN agencies, Ambassadors and members of diplomatic missions to Iran, NGOs, Iranian celebrities and athletes attended this event.

 The event kicked off with the unveiling of a Commemorative Stamp by UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Gary Lewis and WFP Representative, Ms. Negar Gerami.

 Ms. Negar Gerami welcomed the guests and said.  “World Food Day is an occasion to come together and pledge to end hunger. This year, 842 million people across the globe suffer from chronic hunger. We in WFP provide food assistance to some 100 million people in 80 countries on the one hand, and try to raise awareness on hunger issues world – wide on the other”

The highlight of this year event was the introduction of more than 30 Iranian popular figures from arts, cinema, sports and culture as WFP Iran celebrity partners. Ms. Gerami thanked the celebrities for their engagement and said “We are confident that the celebrity support here will greatly assist us in our fight to eradicate hunger worldwide.”

The evening ended with a live performance of the extremely popular “Rastaak Ensemble.” The Group played several pieces from Khorassan, Kurdistan, Gilan and Hormozgan provinces.

UN RC awarding Mr. Salar Aghili with WFP celebrity partner certificate

In purely quantitative terms, there is enough food available to feed the entire global population of 7 billion people. However as the result of high profile crises like war or natural disasters, some 842 million people – more than one in eight people in the world – suffer from chronic hunger. Yet even more – around two billion people – lack the vitamins and minerals needed to live healthy lives.

 WFP Iran provides a monthly food basket to 30,000 Afghan and Iraqi refugees in 19 settlements across the country. Also in order to promote girls’ education and bridge the gender gap, we provide a take-home ration of vegetable oil to 3,000 refugee schoolgirls and their female teachers as well as 200 youth attending skills training classes organized by UNHCR.