Dubai, UAE  14th May 2009 - As declining economic growth pushes thousands of people further into poverty, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), together with its major corporate partners TNT, Unilever and DSM, is preparing for a global walk against child hunger this June, "End Hunger: Walk the World".

Thousands of people will come together with celebrities, government dignitaries, UN agencies, WFP corporate partners, their employees, friends and families to walk over a 24-hour period, one hour in each of the planet's time zones, to raise awareness and funds to feed children.

Previously Dubai has had great success with "walking" towards preventing world hunger. On June 5, 2009 the UN and its partners are yet again giving the people of Dubai the chance for families, communities and business to get involved to raise awareness, make a difference and create change. The one hour walk set to take place in Dubai Mall. Businesses and individuals are being urged to rally around this cause and bookmark the date in their diaries.

"Every six seconds a child dies because of hunger and related causes. Whether you would like to partake in an internal fundraiser or just join us the day of the walk, every little bit counts. So now it's your turn to step up and help these children wake up to a hopeful future" explained Mark Woodcock, Sales and Commerical Director at TNT Express, UAE

Woodcock went on to add: "We have just under a month to go before the big day, so we want to remind people that it is now in their hands. Be sponsored, give a donation, or get your company to organize a corporate initiative for the good of others. If everyone could just spare one hour, imagine the change that we can make. We want to see as many faces as possible. It is essential for without our money these feeding programs will stop immediately"

"End Hunger: Walk the World", a yearly event initiated by TNT in 2003 and joined by Unilever in 2007 and DSM in 2008, will raise funds and public awareness to feed hungry and malnourished schoolchildren. For as little as one dirham, WFP can give a cup of porridge, rice or beans to a child in school - a small but highly effective investment in a healthy and productive future.

Families struggling to afford food are making tough choices: cutting meals or eating less nutritious food. The WFP school meals, funded through the Walk the World proceeds, provide a critical safety net to poor families who desperately need help in this time of hardship.

-Ends- 

WFP is the world's frontline organisation for hunger solutions; this year, WFP will feed about 100 million people in around 80 countries.

TNT is a global mail and express delivery company serving more than 200 countries. Since 2002, TNT has been an active partner of WFP and to date has invested over $50 million in the partnership.

Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe. Unilever joined forces with WFP in January 2007 for a three-year partnership to improve the nutrition and health of poor, school-aged children around the world.

DSM is a life sciences and materials sciences company. In April 2007, DSM and WFP joined forces to ensure the nutritional needs of WFP beneficiaries are met through the creation of cost-effective micronutrient interventions to improve the general food basket.

Visit www.wfp.org/walktheworld or join the Facebook group "End hunger: Walk the World Dubai 2009" for further information and updates.

Did You Know....

10.9 million Children under five die in developing countries each year.
(Source: The State of the World's Children, UNICEF, 2007)

Access to vitamin A and Zinc could prevent approx. 684,000 child deaths worldwide .(Source: WFP Annual Report 2007)

One out of four children - roughly 146 million - in developing countries are underweight;
(Source: The State of the World's Children, UNICEF, 2007)

Iron deficiency is impairing the mental development of 40-60 percent children in developing countries.
(Source: Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency, A Global Progress Report, p2, UNICEF)

Lack of Vitamin A kills a million infants a year

For further information please contact:
Jordana Tasker
Regional Director - MENA
+971 (0)4331 0331
+971 (0)50 1594 987
Jordana.tasker@cohnwolfemena.com

Camellia Bojtor
Account Executive
+971 (0)4331 0331
+971 (0)50 115 7726
Camellia.bojtor@cohnwolfeuae.com

Wael Karabala
Account Manager
+971 (0)4331 0331
+971 50 2732766
Wael.karbala@cohnwolfeuae.com

© Press Release 2009