Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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March 28, 2007

WFP: North Korea Faces New Food Shortages
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=16D46DE:A6F02AD83191E16039FE82C95AE5EB559574F7DCC14957C0 World Food Program
officials say the North Korean government asked the UN agency to seek
more food donations to prevent millions of people from going hungry
The World Food Program (WFP) says North Korea is facing new food
shortages. WFP officials returning from Pyongyang say the North Korean
government asked the U.N. agency to seek more food donations to
prevent millions of people from going hungry. VOA's Luis Ramirez
reports from Beijing.

WFP Asia director Anthony Banbury says the North Korean government is
reporting a food supply shortage of one million tons this year.
Banbury told reporters in Beijing that North Korean officials asked
him to convey their request for more aid.

"If the donors do not respond to the request, millions of people are
going to go hungry," he said. "The nutritional status of millions of
people is going to worsen. Pregnant women will have bad birth
outcomes. Infant mortality may indeed increase."

Banbury just finished a six-day visit to Pyongyang. He says North
Korea's shortfall equals 20 percent of its food needs.









North Korean residents line up to receive food rations at a Red Cross
distribution center in Tongsin, North Korea (File)North Korea has had
food shortages for years, due largely to natural disasters and
mismanagement.

Officials this year blame a poor harvest and a drop in donations
during 2006, when a number of nations cut aid because North Korea
boycotted nuclear disarmament talks, fired test missiles, and
conducted a nuclear test.

A preliminary nuclear disarmament accord reached last month allows for
humanitarian aid to the North. However, implementation details are
being worked out and Banbury says those who are going hungry in North
Korea cannot wait until they are settled.

"We're asking donors to look at the situation in the country now;
recognize how serious it is and provide assistance now," he said.
"Because the needs of the people are separate from the political
talks, there ought not to be a direct linkage between those talks and
the food security situation in the country."

South Korea, which cut back its aid to the North last year, resumed it
this week with a shipment on Tuesday of more than 6,000 tons of
fertilizer.


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