Back in April, Cindy McCain was confident she could keep her politics siloed from her new role as the World Food Programme’s executive director. But a raft of difficulties, from funding shortfalls to a highly politicized war between Israel and Hamas, are teaching McCain a tough lesson: Neutrality is easier said than done.
A new report from Devex’s U.N. correspondent Colum Lynch and contributor Elissa Miolene shines a light on all the ways McCain has stepped in it as of late, with offenses ranging from tasteless (posting a picture of her dog on Instagram with the caption “fully fed” as hunger in Sudan hit record highs) to decidedly more serious (allegedly skipping a commemoration of over 100 U.N. workers killed in Gaza but attending a ceremony just days later honoring the people of Israel with a prize named for her late husband, former U.S. Sen. John McCain).
WFP also faces financial challenges: As of this month, the agency has received some $7.3 billion, about 31% of its projected needs for 2023. It has cut food aid to Afghanistan, Chad, and Yemen. The decision on Yemen in particular has drawn the ire of charities.
About the authors
Lauren Evans@laurenfaceevans
Lauren Evans was formerly an Assistant Editor/Senior Associate in the Office of the President at Devex. As a journalist, she covers international development and humanitarian action with a focus on climate and gender. Her work has appeared in outlets like Foreign Policy, Wired UK, Smithsonian Magazine and others, and she’s reported internationally throughout East Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Tania Karas@TaniaKaras
Tania Karas is a Senior Editor at Devex, where she edits coverage on global development and humanitarian aid in the Americas. Previously, she managed the digital team for The World, where she oversaw content production for the website, podcast, newsletter, and social media platforms. Tania also spent three years as a foreign correspondent in Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon, covering the Syrian refugee crisis and European politics. She started her career as a staff reporter for the New York Law Journal, covering immigration and access to justice.
