amna: The causes of global
hunger are many and well known
-- conflict, climate, and in too
many cases, cruelty.
But, it is the job of the united
nations world food programme to
push through those barriers to
feed hundreds of millions of
people in need.
Its executive director the last
six years is David Beasley,
under whose leadership, the wfp
won the Nobel peace prize in
2020.
He leaves the post early next
month.
David Beasley joins us now and
welcome back to the "Newshour."
David: Thank you very much.
Amna: As you well know that your
time with wfp, you visited
dozens of countries.
You have seen firsthand as the
global hunger crisis has only
worsened.
In the horn of Africa, millions
of people are facing famine.
Years of war in Afghanistan has
led to widespread hunger.
The war in Ukraine has fueled
all of this.
Is it safe to say there is more
work for the agency to do in
more places now than you begin?
David:david: When I took this
role six years ago, there were
80 million people marching
toward starvation and I
literally thought we can put the
world food programme out of
business.
Unfortunately because of
conflict after conflict, covid
disruption, Ukraine, the list
goes on, it is only getting
worse and worse.
Now we are reaching over 160
million people, and that number
of 80 million is now 345 million
people marching toward
starvation.
It is going to get worse because
of food inflation, devaluation
of the currency, and I could go
on and on.
The next 12 months are really
going to be tough on the entire
planet.
8 billion people will be
struggling if we don't resolve
some of these issues now.
Amna: As you prepare to leave
this post, folks are looking
back at your time and some call
you the money magnet because the
wfp raised $6 billion in the
year you took office.
Last year, then nearly
doubled.
$55 billion total.
That is astonishing.
How did you do it?
David: You see Democrats and
Republicans in the United States
fighting over everything, but
when it comes to food security,
it is like the miracle on
Pennsylvania avenue.
On both ends of Pennsylvania
avenue, they have come together
because they understand the
significance of bringing peace
through food security around the
world.
Quite frankly, had we not spent
that money, I can assure you the
cost would be 1000 times more
because of not just starvation,
but mass migration that would
have resulted in destabilization
of a nation.
It is money well spent to bring
people hope in times of
hopelessness.
We cannot back down now.
Amna: That is money from
lawmakers and governments.
You have been publicly calling
for more of the world's richest
people, individuals to step up
and do what you say that they
have the powers and means to do.
You specifically called out Elon
Musk and set I can help you
spend that money.
You could end world hunger.
As you are preparing to step
away, you have spoken to many of
these people face-to-face.
What is it that is keeping them
from acting in this way?
Dav several things.
There's$400 trillion worth of
wealth around the planet today.
Your charity is not a long-term
solution, but we are in a crisis
mode right now and we need your
help.
Number to come need your
engagement.
Work with us to end hunger
around the world.
You are putting rockets in
space.
You have apple phones and
iPhones and technology that is
doing all these remarkable
things.
Let's use that ingenuity so we
end starvation and hunger around
the planet.
Engage, that is what I want you
to do because working together,
we can solve this problem.
When you have $400 trillion
worth of wealth in the planet,
and the fact that anyone dies
from hunger, a child, shame on
us.
We can do better than this.
Amna: Cindy McCain, the current
ambassador U.N.
Agencies, will be taking over.
What have you been able to offer
her in the way of advice and
guidance?
David: It is a heck of a
commitment.
This is not a 9-5 job.
Cindy and I have been working
hard tirelessly together.
She hits the ground running.
There was so much I didn't know.
She comes in and actually knows
a lot more than I did when I
came in.
I have no doubt she will be able
to take the reins and move the
operation forward in a way that
is needed.
I did what I knew to do for six
years and I have no doubt she is
the right time.
She has the capacity to bring
Democrats and Republicans
together in the U.S.
We also get great support from
Canada and other nations in the
neighborhood so to speak.
She will be tested in a lot of
ways but I have no doubt she
will be able to do it.
I told her, stay focused.
Don't let the noise distract
you.
Stay focused on what the poorest
of the poor and the vulnerable
people need and that will be a
victory.
Amna: Your background was in
politics before you took this
job.
You are South Carolina's
governor in the 1990's.
Do you see yourself going back
to public office?
David: I have two more weeks on
this job.
I will stay focused doing that.
I'm looking forward to going
home.
I have three grandchildren I
have really not spent any time
with.
I'm looking forward to spending
some time.
We will see what happens from
there.
Amna: We will see what happens
indeed.
David Beasley, the outgoing
executive director of the world
food programme.
Always good to see you.
David: Thank you.
Good to see you.