American diplomat Josette Sheeran has been selected as the next head of the U.N. World Food Program, which provides assistance to millions of hungry people around the world, the United Nations announced Tuesday according to The Associated Press. Sheeran, the U.S. undersecretary of state for economics, business and agricultural affairs, defeated another American candidate who was not supported by President George W. Bush's administration, a Swiss candidate, and a Canadian for the job. She will replace American James T. Morris for a five-year term as head of the world's largest humanitarian agency. Founded in 1962, WFP provides food aid to an average of 90 million poor people, including 58 million hungry children, in at least 80 of the world's poorest countries. The United States provides over 40 percent of the agency's budget. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Jacques Diouf, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization, announced their appointment of Sheeran. The executive board of the World Food Program, which met Tuesday in Rome, confirmed its concurrence with Sheeran's appointment, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
