[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 162 (Tuesday, November 16, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S14602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, last week there was a terrible tragedy 
affecting the United Nations' World Food Program. This occurred when 
one of their planes crashed in Kosovo on an errand of mercy.
  Since its inception in 1963, the World Food Program has been the 
United Nations' front line for fighting hunger throughout the world. It 
is the world's largest food aid organization.
  Last year, the World Food Program assisted 75 million people in 80 
countries around the world. This summer I observed their operations in 
Kosovo. In fact, at one point I was invited to fly on the same plane 
that crashed, to go and see what they were doing.
  The World Food Program's mission is to eradicate hunger. I think that 
in the last seven years it has moved closer and closer to accomplishing 
this goal under the leadership of Executive Director Catherine Bertini. 
I was very proud to support Catherine when she was appointed to be 
executive director in 1992, during the administration of President 
Bush. She became the first woman to head the World Food Program. I have 
been a strong supporter for her ever since. She has done a great job as 
executive director, and I am glad that she continues to lead the World 
Food Program today.
  For many, the World Food Program is known for its emergency response 
efforts. It was one of the first organizations to move into the Balkan 
region when the conflict in Kosovo began.
  As I mentioned earlier, during the August recess I visited the World 
Food Program and met with Catherine Bertini and talked to her about how 
their efforts were going. I believe they are doing a great job. Areas 
which had previously been empty fields have been transformed into 
makeshift cities where thousands of people seeking safety, food and 
shelter have found relief, thanks to the efforts of the World Food 
Program, Catholic Relief Services and other international 
organizations.
  But emergency relief efforts such as this reflect only a portion of 
the World Food Program's responsibilities. The World Food Program's 
Food for Work programs feed millions of chronically hungry people 
worldwide. They contribute more grants to developing countries than any 
other United Nations agency. That is why so many people around the 
world felt the same degree of sadness that I and others in the Senate 
did when we learned of the plane crash on Friday in which a World Food 
Program plane, en route from Rome to Pristina, crashed into a mountain 
ridge just miles from their destination, killing all 24 people aboard 
the plane.

  The passengers aboard this plane were an international group of aid 
workers. They were all headed to Kosovo to become part of the 
humanitarian mission there. In a war-torn area, these were 24 people 
going to bring solace, aid, and help to people who have seen so little 
of it over the years. They were people who were motivated by the 
greatest sense of charity and giving to their fellow human beings. They 
worked for U.N. agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and government 
agencies, all united by a sense of humanitarianism.
  The loss of these individuals is going to be felt throughout the 
world. They were people who demonstrated over and over again that their 
fellow human beings were the most important things in their lives. 
Their deaths are a major loss to their families, as well as the 
organizations, including the World Food Program, for which they worked.
  I send my sincere condolences to the families of those killed in this 
tragic crash, and I hope the world will understand they have lost 24 of 
their finest people.
  (The remarks of Mr. Leahy pertaining to the introduction of S. 1924 
are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')

                          ____________________