Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/wfp2g8display071109.html
UNITED NATIONS, July 11 -- On the sidelines of the G-8 meeting on July 10, the World Food Program shut down its headquarters for a "simulated food distribution" for the spouses of the G-8 leaders, flying in school children from Ghana to put them on display. Many WFP staff members found the display disgusting, a waste of money and a disrespect to UN recipients. U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama may have shared some of the concerns: she did not attend. Nor did French First Lady Carla Bruni.
WFP director Josette Sheeran, rumored to be under review by the the U.S. which nominated her under George Bush, conducted a "seminar" which some attendees found awkward and stilted, "a quest for personal publicity." WFP has yet to provide basic financial information on how much the "simulated food distribution display" cost, while Ms. Sheeran complains about not receiving requested donations. One wonders what new WFP deputy de Mistura, fresh in from the UN in Iraq, thinks of all this.
The event got very little international press coverage, for which Ms. Sheeran may paradoxically be grateful. WFP's own write up said that "in most developing countries women produce between 60 and 80% of food." But WFP insiders point out that while women make up 60 to 80 of farmers, commercial plots play a larger role that WFP says, depending on the country.
The First Ladies of Japan, Canada and the UK did attend, among others. WFP played up -- helped write? -- the blog entry of Britain's Sarah Brown, who said that one person in six does not know if they will have food today An insider counts that is an exaggeration:there are roughly 1 billion hungry people but a large percentage of them are only without food during the lean season before the harvest when stored food has run out.
The main question is whether the money spent, on telling WFP staff not to work on July 10, and flying in children for Ghana as a "Disneyland Africa feeding station," was worth it. Watch this site.
Since WFP refused to answer on the record, Inner City Press asked twice for response from the UN in New York. On July 8:
Inner City Press: In connection with the G-8, the UN World Food Programme is flying Ghanaian schoolchildren to Rome for a simulated feeding programme for the spouses of G-8 leaders at a reported cost of $500,000. Does Mr. Ban think…Some, including WFP staff, think it’s insensitivity to the beneficiaries of aid and a waste of money. What does the Secretary-General think about it and is he or members of his family participating in it?
Spokesperson Michele Montas: Not that I know, but I can find out for you, of course, whether he has any reaction to that.
Having heard nothing back, 24 hours later on July 9, also about North Korea:
Inner City Press: North Korea has said to the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) that it should scale back its international staff, including not having international staff that speak Korean. They apparently “PNG’ed” a South Korean staffer of the World Food Programme. What does the UN system think of a country saying that they can’t have staff in it that speak the language of the country? Is the Secretary-General following, is he concerned about it?
Spokesperson Montas: I think the Secretary-General is always following what is happening to the different agencies, but I think you should address your question to WFP itself.
Inner City Press: And just one follow-up on WFP. This event that they’re having, now it’s tomorrow, at the headquarters of WFP, will be closed down for the simulated feeding programme with Ghanaian children flown in. Yesterday, you said you’d ask. I know he is busy. Is the Secretary-General’s wife there? Is she going to attend?
Spokesperson: No, she is not.
Question: She is not there?
Spokesperson: No.
Question: And does he think this is an appropriate use, I guess, of UN system facilities and funding to fly in children--
Spokesperson: Usually, the Secretary-General does not have express specific opinions on the way agencies deal with their own affairs. As you know, WFP is an agency. It is independent from the Secretariat, autonomous from the Secretariat, and they have their own policies. So I think you should ask them what their justification is for that event and get more details from them.
Question: Okay. I guess, since it may affect sort of confidence, you know, people are always asked to give funds to these agencies. So I just wanted to know whether he thinks it’s an appropriate use, but…
Spokesperson: We don’t usually comment on what the different agencies do.
But is that wise? Watch this site.
