Cindy McCain, widow of the late Senator John McCain and the Executive Director of the U.N. World Food Program, experienced a mild stroke this week but is reportedly on the mend, per a press statement released by the humanitarian organization on Thursday.
The announcement indicated that McCain, who is 71 years old, is anticipated to make a complete recovery and will be journeying from Rome, where the WFP is headquartered, back to Arizona to concentrate on her recuperation.
She is projected to resume her duties after being cleared by her medical team in a timeframe of four to six weeks.
“I am truly grateful for the exceptional treatment I received from the medical professionals in Italy,” remarked McCain.
“My recovery is progressing favorably thanks to their remarkable care.”
Appointed in March 2023, McCain took charge of the world’s largest humanitarian body following her tenure as U.S. ambassador to U.N. agencies dealing with food and agriculture during the administration of former President Joe Biden.
In a notable departure from her party, McCain endorsed Biden for the presidency in 2020, becoming an important figure for the Democratic campaign as then-President Donald Trump had criticized her spouse’s military service throughout their rivalry.
She has emerged as a prominent advocate for the World Food Program, which has consistently received bipartisan backing for its initiatives aimed at aiding nearly 150 million individuals facing crises related to conflict, calamities, and climate change this year.
McCain and the WFP have received considerable attention as the organization seeks to address humanitarian disasters stemming from the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as well as Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip.
After a recent visit to Gaza in late August, McCain informed The Associated Press that the situation revealed a clear shortage of food in the Palestinian territories.
She also mentioned discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the pressing need for increased aid.
Her remarks followed a report from a major food crisis authority stating that Gaza’s largest city was suffering from famine, predicting a potential spread of food scarcity throughout the region without a ceasefire or lifting of humanitarian aid restrictions.
“I personally met with mothers and children who are suffering from starvation in Gaza,” she emphasized.
“This is a pressing reality that is happening right now,”
As an advocate for children’s welfare, McCain is also involved with Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization that addresses facial deformities in children globally, with visits to locations like India, Morocco, and Vietnam, as highlighted in the joint announcement.
McCain took over from David Beasley, who previously led the WFP through numerous challenging periods, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the food crisis stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Beasley was leading the organization when the World Food Program was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, acknowledging its role in preventing hunger from being used as a strategic weapon in conflicts.
Until McCain’s return, Carl Skau, the deputy executive director of WFP, will oversee the organization’s daily operations.
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In her statement released on Thursday, McCain expressed her “full confidence” in the leadership team’s capacity to remain focused on delivering essential food assistance to over 100 million individuals across 87 countries serviced by WFP.
She remarked, “The fight against hunger has never been more urgent, and I am incredibly proud of the daily work our teams perform. I eagerly look forward to returning to the field soon — working alongside WFP teams to combat famine and aid communities in need.”
