Executive Director of the World Food Programme visits Finland

Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of WFP, the World Food Programme, is visiting Finland on 3 and 4 September 2014. WFP, the UN agency responsible for food assistance, is the world’s largest preventer of hunger and malnutrition, a supplier of food assistance and the second greatest target of Finland’s humanitarian financing.

This year, 10.7 million euros in support has focused, among others, on the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Syria. Possible additional support will be considered at the end of the year. “The exceptionally difficult humanitarian situation in the Middle East and in many African countries has increased the need for assistance to an unprecedented level. WFP plays an indispensable role in these and the world’s other humanitarian crises,” says Minister for International Development Pekka Haavisto. The humanitarian situation in several countries of the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes, as well as in Sahel region countries, is expected to worsen at the end of the year. The need for food is also great in Gaza and Syria.

Finland is strongly committed to the WFP’s work. A four-year agreement for 29 million euros in general financing was signed last spring. In addition, Finland channels its country-specific and regional humanitarian assistance through WFP. Last year, Finland gave a total of 16.6 million euros in humanitarian assistance through WFP.

Finland encourages WFP to take account of gender equality and vulnerable groups, especially people with disabilities, in its activities. Finland considers WFP’s cooperation with other actors, including OCHA and FAO, as well as investing in development of the humanitarian system to be highly important.

While in Finland, Cousin will meet with Development Minister Pekka Haavisto, President Tarja Halonen, President Martti Ahtisaari, and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Timo Soini as well as with representatives of non-governmental organizations, academia and other social organizations. Ertharin Cousin will speak at a seminar on Post-2015 development issues to be held at Finlandia Hall on 4 September.

Additional information: Anna Gebremedhin, Head of the Unit for Humanitarian Assistance and Humanitarian Assistance Policy, mobile tel. +358 40 583 0149, Outi Einola-Head, Unit for Development Communications, mobile tel. +358 40 519 4153 and www.wfp.org