6.2 million North Koreans in need of food?
North Korea is facing a “critical” food shortage, especially for children, the UN’s food agency has said.
The World Food Programme’s director for North Korea said the agency was unable to reach millions of North Koreans due to a shortfall in funding.
The director, Torben Due, said the WFP had received no new donations for North Korea since Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test in May.
He also said Pyongyang had barred the WFP from using Korean-speaking staff.
North Korea had given no reason for that decision, he added.
Mr Due told reporters in Beijing that the WFP had received only 15% of an international appeal for $504m (£306m) and had to cut back plans to provide food aid to 6.2 million North Koreans to 2.27 million.
July 1st, 2009 in
FPI Archives
