DPR of Korea: UN welcomes Japanese food aid for millions of hungry

The United Nations World Food Programme

(WFP) today warmly welcomed a $40 million Japanese donation to help millions of needy people in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the second piece of good news this week for a population hit by a decade of floods, droughts and economic hardship.

"This contribution comes at a critical point for WFP's programme in DPRK,” agency Executive Director James Morris said. “While we had hoped to feed 6.5 million people, a severe shortage of funds has obliged us to cut back dramatically. In July, we were able to provide food to only 1.8 million of the most vulnerable women, children, and the elderly."

Earlier this week the agency announced that it would resume cereal distribution to nearly 2 million people following a major shipment of Russian aid, but it had still only received less than 20 per cent of the total aid sought for 2004 for the East Asian country of 23 million.

The latest aid, approved earlier today by the Japanese Cabinet, is part of a pledge made by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in May for 250,000 tons of food aid to the DPRK.

The food to be procured with this contribution will amount to 125,000 tons of rice, wheat, maize, soy beans, sugar and oil and should arrive by the end of the month. The remaining 125,000 tons is to be approved by the Cabinet later this year.

WFP is appealing for $171 million for 2004 and before the Japanese donation, it had received only $28 million, leaving a shortfall of 83 per cent.