[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 140 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S10814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WORLD FOOD DAY AND RUSSELL ULREY

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate World Food 
Day. World Food Day takes place on October 16 and in the words of 
Catherine Bertini, executive Director of the U.N. World Food Program, 
is an opportunity to ``not only rededicate ourselves to the battle 
against hunger and poverty but also acknowledge that millions of people 
have been saved from the scourge of famine because of the commitment of 
the United States and other members of the international community.'' I 
would also like to honor the many humanitarian relief workers who often 
risk their lives to deliver assistance.
  Natural disasters and civil unrest can produce countless refugees 
with no way of feeding themselves. Humanitarian relief workers often 
brave grave dangers in these situations to deliver food to the hungry. 
One of the many heroes who risk their lives to feed the needy is, 
Russell Ulrey, of Detroit, MI. In 1993, Mr. Ulrey served as emergency 
logistics coordinator in southern Sudan for the World Food Program, the 
largest international food aid organization in the world. During his 
time in Sudan, Russell Ulrey led a barge trip up the Nile to feed 
hungry Sudanese. This dangerous trip led Ulrey through the heart of 
that nation's bloody civil war. Ulrey's mission came under fire several 
times but succeeded in delivering eight barges carrying 2,600 tons of 
food. Ulrey's trip up the Nile was the first of 25 that WFP made, 
delivering 65,000 tons of food.
  Mr. President, I am pleased to highlight the exploits of Russell 
Ulrey and the thousands of other relief workers that risk their lives 
daily to feed the world's needy. I know my Senate colleagues join me in 
honoring their efforts and World Food Day.

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