Expressing Condolences Regarding Attack On United Nations World Food Program Office In Islamabad, Pakistan

Floor Speech

Expressing Condolences Regarding Attack On United Nations World Food Program Office In Islamabad, Pakistan

Mr. Speaker, I extend my strong support to H. Res. 823, which expresses condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those killed and injured in the recent attack on the United Nations World Food Program office in Islamabad, Pakistan, and support for the World Food Program's mission to bring emergency food aid to the most vulnerable people of Pakistan and around the world.

On October 5, 2009, a suicide bomber attacked the World Food Program office in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing five employees, Botan Ahmed Ali Al-Hayawi, Farzana Barkat, Abid Rehman, Gulrukh Tahir, and Mohamed Wahab. But more than killing these five individuals, the tragedy has affected the ability of this very important organization to meet Pakistan's most pressing humanitarian needs.

The United Nations World Food Program was established in 1962 and works to provide men, women and children with access to the food needed for an active and healthy life. In 2008, the World Food Program fed 102 million hungry and poor people in 78 countries. In Pakistan, the World Food Program provides assistance to 10 million people at any given time, including 2 million Pakistanis displaced by fighting in the Swat Valley region earlier this year.

As the international community grieves over the loss of five staff members who selflessly gave themselves to their fellow men and women, let us recognize the critical work of the United Nations World Food Program. More than 84.7 percent of Pakistanis live on less than US $2 per day, and I daresay that Pakistan cannot afford to go on without the work and aid delivered by this organization.

I extend my sincerest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues whose loved ones were lost in the recent attack on the World Food Program office in Islamabad. Moreover, I reaffirm my support for the mission of the World Food Program, its leadership and staff of over 10,000 dedicated men and women.

Lastly, I hope that this event reminds my colleagues in Congress, the American people and citizens of the world, that as human beings, it is in our personal interest to ensure that no one on this earth goes hungry for want of food. Let us rise up in solidarity with the people of the United Nations World Food Program and ensure that the recent attack does not diminish, but strengthens, our resolve to advance anti-hunger efforts in Pakistan and defeat poverty around the world.

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