The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Thousands of people - many of whom can no longer afford basic foods at their local markets - will join the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and its major corporate partners, in a global walk to raise awareness and funds to feed poor children in schools, a press release of WFP in Dhaka said yesterday.

On Sunday, 1 June, people all over the world will come together with celebrities, government dignitaries, UN agencies, WFP corporate partners, their employees, friends and families to walk over a 24-hour period in each of the planet's time zones.

In Dhaka, the Walk will start from IDB Bhaban, Agargaon, at 10 am and will end at Chandrima Uddan.

A similar walk will take place in Jessore at 10 am between the DC office and the WFP office. At over 50 locations in 10 districts, similar walk will take place in which more than 1800 students, teachers and community members will participate. The largest walk is expected to take place in Dhaka with over 500 people expected to attend.

"The price crunch is pushing millions of families to the edge with tragic consequences for future generations," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran. "This event symbolises how people from all over the world can unite to raise awareness about the plight of the hungry poor."

"End Hunger: Walk the World" aims to raise funds for WFP to provide school meals to the 59 million children who attend school hungry every day - a critical safety net to poor families who desperately need help in this time of hardship, the release noted.

Hunger continues to be the greatest threat to health Worldwide, killing a child every six seconds. High commodity and fuel prices coupled with an increase in natural disasters - like those in Myanmar and China - threaten to wipe out any gains made against hunger in recent years, it said.

On average it costs WFP only 25 US cents to give a cup of porridge, rice or beans to a child in school - a small but highly effective investment in a healthy and productive future.

WFP in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh through its School Feeding programme provides a 75-gram packet of biscuits fortified with vitamins and minerals to 600,000 poor children in 6 targeted food insecure areas. The snack provides 338 calories and 70 per cent of the vitamins and minerals a school child needs every day, the release added.

"Few people know that it only costs Taka 131 or US$ 2 in Bangladesh to feed a hungry child in school for the whole month. This proves that even the smallest contribution can help make a huge difference," said Edward Kallon, Acting Country Director of WFP Bangladesh. "In Bangladesh, about 50 per cent of children under the age of five are underweight and stunted which results in a reduced mental capacity and physical development."

"We are deeply concerned about those affected by hunger and those threatened by the current food crisis, whether they are our neighbours or live in a far-away country," said Peter Bakker, CEO of TNT. "I am very proud of the fact that on every continent of the globe TNT employees, their families and friends will again join Walk the World this year to raise funds and awareness for hungry schoolchildren."

"End Hunger: Walk the World" evolved from an initiative of TNT employees in Asia in 2003, with Unilever joining as a key organiser in 2007. Over the past five years, the event mobilised approximately 1 million participants and raised funds to feed over 100,000 children in school for one year," the release said.