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Princess Haya receives WFP Hunger Hero Award in Davos

By JT - Jan 26,2015 - Last updated at Jan 26,2015

AMMAN — HRH Princess Haya received the UN World Food Programme’s (WFP) 2015 Hunger Hero Award at the World Leaders Dinner on Thursday at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

A former WFP ambassador against hunger, Princess Haya is now a UN Messenger of Peace as well as the chairperson of the International Humanitarian City (IHC) in Dubai, the WFP said in a statement. 

The IHC is the world’s largest logistics centre for aid distribution and is used by WFP and eight other UN agencies and dozens of NGOs. 

During her time as a WFP ambassador, Princess Haya visited WFP operations in many countries, including Malawi, Syria and Cambodia, the statement said.

To address hunger in Jordan, the princess created the first food assistance NGO in the Middle East — Tkiyet Um Ali. 

“She expanded it so every Jordanian family that cannot afford to pay for food now receives a generous monthly ration. Even in the last few years, at a time when Jordan faces increased challenges providing refuge for people from Syria and Iraq, the number of recipients reached has tripled,” the WFP said. 

The Tkiyet also played a prominent role in providing food for Gazan families during the conflict in 2014.

In her role as UN Messenger of Peace, Princess Haya — who is married to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai — has worked to raise attention on the Millennium Development Goals, especially with regard to hunger. 

She supported UN operations in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Gaza and sub-Saharan Africa through numerous field visits, fund raising and publicity, the statement said. 

“Princess Haya’s steadfast support for our expanded capacity and operations out of Dubai as well as her advocacy for the people we serve throughout the world are greatly appreciated,” the statement quoted WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin as saying. 

“She is a true champion of WFP’s mission and I look forward to continuing our work together in the future.”

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