The UN World Food Programme has called for the White House and other western donors to put children’s lives before politics and fund a major injection of aid to North Korea.
The World Food Programme’s executive director, David Beasley, said he had heard concerns that responding to an appeal from Pyongyang would prop up the Kim regime.
The World Food Programme’s executive director, David Beasley, said he had heard concerns that responding to an appeal from Pyongyang would prop up the Kim regime.
Due to flooding and a heatwave last year, North Korea is facing a shortfall of 1.4m tonnes in food production this year, including wheat, rice, potatoes and soybean. An estimated 11 million people – 40% of the population – are already undernourished, with one in five children stunted due to chronic malnutrition.
“This is a serious issue and children are going to be severely impacted if we do not do something by the time the lean season truly kicks in by June,” Beasley said. “Russia has responded and is sending in 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat, China is doing something too. Western donors are still hoping that the breaking of the impasse will take place so that everyone can come in together.” Beasley added: “The concerns have been about not helping the regime. We make the case: don’t let innocent children suffer because of politics.”
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