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Princess Haya is WFP's Goodwill Ambassador

DUBAI - Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, the daughter of late King Hussein of Jordan and wife of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, will join the United Nations World Food Programme as a Goodwill Ambassador in the global effort against hunger. An announcement to this effect was made in Dubai yesterday.

With this appointment, which was supported by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Princess Haya has become the second Goodwill Ambassador ever for the WFP, as well as the first Arab and the first woman to take up this position.

Speaking at a Press conference, where James T. Morris, WFP Executive Director, presented the princess with the official letter of appointment, she said: "The case for modernity, development, industrialisation and globalisation cannot be made without simultaneously reaching out to those who are less privileged to ensure that they too are able to obtain the basics in life, to prosper, and to flourish. The reality, however, is somewhat different."

Princess Haya said while humanity has made incredible leaps in science and technology, which has resulted in economic prosperity for many, there were still those who did not have access to even the very basics of life. "Today, there are more than 850 million hungry people in the world, while 25,000 die from hunger or hunger-related causes every day," she said.

The new Goodwill Ambassador urged that a spirit of giving has become "a sustained effort by individuals and corporations; a proactive effort by people who seek to assist those in hunger before it reaches epic proportions."

She joins a growing list of world figures working to promote WFP efforts to combat hunger. These include Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand, the former US Ambassador and Senator George McGovern, who helped found WFP in 1963; Brazilian international footballers Ronaldinho and Kaka; marathon world record holder Paul Tergat who credits his success to the WFP school meals he received as a child and the distinguished Egyptian actor, Mahmoud Yassin, who touches hearts and minds in the Arab world.

Paying tribute to Princess Haya for having established the first food aid NGO in the Arab world, 'Tkiyet Um Ali', a unique initiative which she founded in Jordan to provide food aid and social services to the poor, Morris said it was a great honour for WFP to be joined by such a prominent advocate on behalf of the hungry poor.

The UN food aid agency is wholly dependent on contributions. "With increasing pressures on government budgets and the world's commitment to cutting world hunger by half by 2015 we have to work harder with the private sector, NGOs and individuals to raise more funds and awareness," Morris said, adding that the help of "distinguished personalities such as Princess Haya is indispensable for this drive."

To a question on her first step as a Goodwill Ambassador, Princess Haya said her work would revolve around spreading awareness and education on hunger and poverty the world over. The princess said she would soon be visiting countries, including those in Africa and Asia, where hunger and poverty are major concerns.