WFP Executive Director David Beasley has applauded the government of Iceland for doubling its support for the World Food Programme. In a visit to Iceland Beasley criticized China and the Gulf states for not stepping up support to face the global food crisis.
“Iceland is doubling-up,” Mr. Beasley told Icelandic TV. “ Iceland is not a big country but it is punching above its weight. It is a great role model for other countries to follow.”
The Executive Director applauded the US government for increasing its support by $5 billions. He visited Iceland after a successful visit to Germany.
More should step up
“So which countries are not stepping up? China, we are hardly getting anything from China; the Gulf states with massive oil price profits right now, probably around billion dollars per day. They should be stepping up because oil prices impact cost of fertilizers and they impact food prices through cost of transportation.”
#Iceland: a small country with a big heart! Thank you to the government and the people of this great nation for stepping up at an hour of global need. You have provided food, hope and a voice for so many. pic.twitter.com/my95nByCeH
— David Beasley (@WFPChief) October 21, 2022
After meetings with Icelandic government ministers and the President, Beasley tweeted:
“You might think Iceland is a small country, but let me tell you they got an incredibly big heart. They understand that people are suffering all over the world. Thank you Iceland for stepping up,” Mr. Beasley said in a video on his Twitter account.
Iceland with a population of 380,000, increased its contribution by $14 million.
This is, however, a drop in the ocean since the increased costs of WFP due to higher oil prices amounts to $75 million per month. “But every dollar makes a difference,” Mr. Beasley pointed out.
“I can feed 4 children with a dollar.”
