WFP restarts food aid program in North Korea
The United Nations’ World Food Program said it will restart food aid operations in North Korea after reaching an agreement with the country May 10.
WFP’s $102 million plan requires 150,000 tons of commodities to support 1.9 million people until mid-2008. The UN agency has 12,000 tons of leftover stocks already in-country, which will allow for prompt resumption of food distributions.
However, WFP noted that the existing food stocks in North Korea will only sustain its operations for about two months and appeals to country donors have been made.
WFP ended 10 years of emergency aid to North Korea in December 2005 after the government cited better harvests and a reluctance to accept outside help.