Eisenhower's Idea still vital for peace

A small part of President Dwight Eisenhower's speech at the United Nations on Sept. 22, 1960, turned out to be a big idea. Eisenhower proposed the creation of a global agency to fight world hunger.

Eisenhower reminded everyone that hunger is a crisis, but one we could do something about.

"We must never forget that there are hundreds of millions of people, particularly in the less developed parts of the world, suffering from hunger and malnutrition, even though a number of countries, my own included, are producing food in surplus" said Eisenhower.

Earlier in his presidency Eisenhower had started the Food for Peace program which sent U.S. surplus food abroad to combat world hunger. There could be no peace in the world if people were starving.

Eisenhower proposed going a step further with Food for Peace.

"My country is also ready to join with other members of the United Nations in devising a workable scheme to provide food to member states through the United Nations system."

This was when Eisenhower proposed an international food for peace effort which became the U.N. World Food Program. Eisenhower left office before his idea became a reality but President John F. Kennedy took the initiative and started the program, a demonstration of bipartisan support for fighting hunger.

The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) today is on the front lines of humanitarian emergencies including Gaza, Sudan, Congo, Syria, Haiti and many other nations in need. For its heroic efforts fighting hunger, the WFP received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

The United States, especially through the Food for Peace program, is the lead supporter of WFP. Food from U.S. farms are critical to WFP missions to feed the hungry.

The WFP relies on voluntary donations from governments and the public. This can range from students holding a fundraiser at their school to donations from businesses or government programs like Food for Peace. Everyone can be a part of the international food for peace mission of WFP.

Food is the foundation for all nations to develop. Without food there is hunger, chaos and desperation. Peace cannot be founded upon hunger and suffering.

The WFP is currently experiencing major funding shortages. A shortage of donations can lead to reduction in rations or even cancellation of programs that feed the hungry.

You can remind your elected officials to support WFP and other relief agencies feeding the world's hungry. The U.S. Food for Peace program needs more funding. There have been many cuts in funding to hunger relief this year and it’s very tragic because there are so many emergencies.

Eisenhower knew this very well as food played a critical role during World War II and the aftermath when peace hung in the balance. Today food is also urgent if we are to help nations overcome conflict, drought and poverty.

What started out as a few words in Eisenhower’s speech has become a global hunger fighting organization. WFP needs our support to meet the continuing challenges of feeding the hungry and helping stabilize nations with food and agriculture.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) on the book “Ending World Hunger.”