WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement today after the United Nations announced it will nominate Cindy McCain, currently the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Agencies for Food and Agriculture, as Executive Director of the U.N. World Food Program (WFP):
“There is no one better suited to this role than Cindy, who has worked tirelessly to fight famine and improve the lives of many around the world. Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, and natural disasters have upended agricultural output and created an unprecedented global food crisis with alarming rates of malnutrition. Cindy’s experience with U.N. agencies in Rome will allow her to hit the ground running and deliver relief to millions.
“I’m grateful to the outgoing Executive Director, Governor David Beasley, for his strong work at the head of the WFP. A dear friend, Governor Beasley has been one of the most impressive and effective leaders the WFP has had and has secured record amounts of aid to fight hunger globally. I thank him for his service to the people of the world.”
Senator Coons is Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, which funds U.S. humanitarian aid, and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.