Global hunger among schoolchildren

London-  The former Ghanaian president, John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor, has today been  named a Global Ambassador against Hunger for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).  He joins an elite team of celebrities, sportsmen and statesmen  in stepping forward to advocate on behalf of the world’s poorest and hungriest people. WFP  Executive Director Josette Sheeran said that with the number of hungry people  in  the world expected to top one billion this year, John Kufuor is bringing  WFP  critical  support  at  a  crucial  juncture.  She added that Ambassador Kufuor  will  emphasise  the need to provide good nutrition for children in school. With  renewed attention focused on the issue of global food security, JohnKufuor  will  also  help  to underline the importance of fighting hunger on several  fronts  –  by investing in long-term agricultural development, but also  by funding WFP’s work in tackling urgent hunger needs and helping the hungry poor to access affordable and nutritious food. WFP  Ambassadors  against Hunger demonstrate commitment to the global fight against  hunger.  They  reach  out  to world leaders as well as the general public, using their talent, skills and public persona to generate awareness and  support  for WFP. John Kufuor joins a powerful team of WFP ambassadors including sporting legends such as the marathon runner, Paul Tergat and the footballer,  Kakà;  former  U.S. Senator, George McGovern, and the actress, Drew Barrymore. Key facts about WFP School Meal programmes: 66 million children go to school hungry each day – This is largely due to an increase in overall global school enrollment, and the food and financial crises have increased the ranks of the food insecure/undernourished. Approximately 70% of the 66 million are concentrated in ten countries (India, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Philippines). WFP calculates that US$3.2 billion is needed per year to reach all 6 million hungry school age children. US$1.1 billion would allow WFP to reach the 22 million children in Africa. Every year WFP feeds more than 20 million children in school meal programmes in some 70 countries. In 2008, WFP fed a record 23 million children. Over the past 45 years, 42 countries have taken over the responsibility from WFP for school meal programmes.