World Food Programme

WFP presents the world's first humanitarian video game in Arabic

Copyright: WFP/Food Force

Dubai, 8 April 2008 - The world's first humanitarian video game in Arabic - an action-packed educational game about hunger and the importance of humanitarian aid work - is being unveiled in Dubai.

"Food Force" was created by the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN's frontline agency in the fight against hunger and the world's largest humanitarian organisation, to raise awareness amongst students about the problem of global hunger.





Race against time

Players join a virtual team of WFP experts to get food to the needy in an emergency situation, in an exciting and educational race against time.

The game, which has already clocked around 6 million players worldwide, is available as a free internet download at www.food-force.com/ar , along with information about WFP and its work.

Under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the game will be presented at the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD ).

Educational tool

Princess Haya is a UN Messenger for Peace, a former Goodwill Ambassador for WFP and a long-standing supporter of WFP's work. Her Royal Highness is keen to underline the importance of Food Force as an educational tool.

"Food Force is wonderful way of engaging today's youth in the humanitarian industry," HRH Princess Haya says, "because hunger is a terribly serious issue. Food Force is a means of sensitizing today's youth - tomorrow's leaders - about the enormity of the issue of global hunger, which affects over 400 million children in the world today."

Food Force will be showcased at the Youth Forum of DIHAD through 10 April. John Powell, WFP's Deputy Executive Director, explains that "Dubai is an essential logistics hub for the entire humanitarian community, and especially for WFP as one of the leaders in this field.

Saving lives

DIHAD is the perfect context to present the game in the region," he said.

"In Food Force, children can try their own hand at running a logistics operation to feed the hungry and save lives."

The Saudi Arabian Abdul Latif Jameel Community Service Program, part of the ALJ Group, contributed the funds to make it possible to translate the game.

ALJCSP is the first professional corporate social responsibility organisation in Saudi Arabia, with activities in the areas of employment, environment, vocational training, youth programmes and international projects.

"We believe it is essential to educate youth of today about the big issues facing the international community," said Dr Fatih Mehmet Gül, International Affairs Coordinator for ALJCSP.

"Global hunger is undoubtedly one of those issues, and through WFP's video game Food Force, youngsters can learn both about the problem and about the solution," he said.

Food Force

Food Force is available in 12 languages at www.food-force.com , including English, French, German and Portuguese. A Farsi version is due to be launched in Iran soon.
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