WFP organizes Mt. Qomolangma climb to raise funds for Nepali children

A security officer for the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Nepal is on his way to the Mt. Qomolangma region in the hopes of scaling the world's highest peak while raising money for WFP programs helping children in Nepal, a statement issued by WFP on Tuesday said.

Mark Squirrell left Kathmandu on Monday towards the Mt. Qomolangma to accomplish his mission to raise awareness in the region about child hunger, according to the statement.

He normally makes many trips to the remote and undeveloped districts of the country, where WFP assists thousands of families each year.

The expedition will be hoping to summit Mt. Qomolangma on May 21, on the same day as "Walk the World" - when hundreds of thousands of people around the world will walk in communities to call for an end to child hunger.

"Walk the World" is organized each year by WFP and its partners to raise awareness and funds to fight the scourge of child hunger, which accounts for 18,000 deaths a day, the statement said.

In 2005, over 200,000 people participated in "Walk the World," raising 1.5 million US dollars.

"I'm very excited to finally be going," the WFP statement quoted the Australian national Squirrell as saying.

"To be able to combine a personal dream with the potential of helping children in this country while raising awareness about hunger is both rewarding and humbling," he added.

With the help of sponsors, expenses for the climb have been kept to a minimum, and all proceeds from donors will go to WFP's school feeding programs in Nepal.

WFP provides food for 570,000 children through schools in 22 districts of Nepal.

By giving children a nutritious hot mid-day meal, WFP school feeding programs encourage school attendance and allow students to concentrate on their studies.

In some schools, girls are given an additional take-home food ration as an added incentive for their families to send them to schools.

In Kathmandu, WFP staff members and 1,500 school children are expected to mark "Walk the World" with a walk from Maitighar to Patan Durbar Square.

Around the world, Walk the World 2006 is expected to involve 750, 000 participants in over 100 countries and regions.

Source: Xinhua