AMERICA/PERU - Peru adheres to world campaign to fight hunger and malnutrition among children

Monday, 30 April 2007

Lima (Agenzia Fides) - Once again this year Peru joins the fight to eliminate hunger and malnutrition among children hosting the world "Walk the World" marathon on 6 May to collect funds for the campaign.
The marathon which will be run along part of Lima's coastal area and is organised by the World Food Programme, is being held in Peru for the second year running. WFP representative in Peru, Guy Gauvreau, said funds collected with the sale of sponsor T-shirts will serve for informative activities on nutrition and hygiene for pregnant and nursing mothers.
Funds raised by the marathon last year helped feed children beneficiaries of WFP programmes in the Andes region of Huancavelica, where chronic malnutrition affects 53,4% of the children.
The Walk the World Marathon to eliminate Hunger among Children has been organised since 2003, and has spread to 109 different countries. According to the WFP circa 25.000 people die every day of hunger related conditions and 17 million children are born every year to mothers suffering from severe hunger.
In Latin America the problem affects one out of every 10 persons, although the region produces enough food for 1,800 million, three times the region's total population.
The WFP has worked in Peru for 42 years in collaboration with the state with programmes in Lima and in the Andes region where poverty rates are highest. (AP) (30/4/2007 Agenzia Fides; Righe:24; Parole:259)


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