More than 10 million people in North Korea face severe food shortages due to the lowest crop production in the country in a decade, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said in a press release on Friday
UNITED NATIONS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 03rd May, 2019) More than 10 million people in North Korea face severe food shortages due to the lowest crop production in the country in a decade, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said in a press release on Friday."A United Nations food security assessment in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has found that following the worst harvest in 10 years, due to dry spells, heat waves and flooding, about 10.1 million people suffer from severe food shortages, meaning they do not have enough food until the next harvest," the release said.
According to the WFP, reduced rainfall, a lack of snow cover and freezing of crops have caused a 1.36 million-metric-ton food deficit, representing a 20 percent cut, the lowest since the season of 2008/09.
At the same time, the North Korean government has cut its food rations, which large numbers of people rely on, to the lowest levels ever this season, the release said.
The reduced harvest led to the low food consumption levels, lack of dietary diversity, and cut to the lowest level ever for this season of food potions distributed by the North Korean government, on which a large number of people relies, the release continued.
The WFP warned that the situation regarding food availability in North Korea might become significantly troubling in June-October, during the season of little or no harvest.
The UN recommended scaling up food assistance, expanding nutrition programs, and implementing disaster risk reduction techniques to help the country to better cope with potential harvest shortages in the future.
In February, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the organization was in contact with the government of North Korea to further understand the impact of the food insecurity crisis, adding that the Security Council sanctions on the country were having an undesirable effect on the humanitarian situation there.
Earlier in February, North Korea's government asked international humanitarian organizations to provide aid amid food shortages in the country.
Despite the fact that the situation on the Korean peninsula has significantly improved since last year's high-level talks had between North and South Korea, as well between Washington and Pyongyang, the country is still subject to international sanctions.
