FAO labels N. Korea in need of external food help
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By Lee Jin-a
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has re-designated North Korea and 36 other countries, including Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Nepal, as “in need of external food assistance.”
The FAO said Thursday: “North Korea has to secure more than 700,000 tons of food through import or assistance from international organizations to meet the annual demand this year. Poor rains and limited availability of irrigation water reduced the 2015 aggregate food production.”
The reclusive state has been labeled as a "food deficit country" since 2013.
The North produced about 1.8 million tons of rice and 2.7 million tons of other grains in 2015, according to FAO data. But it still needs to secure at least 5.4 million tons of food to satisfy annual demand.
The international organization has released $8 million in humanitarian aid this year to help more than 2.2 million vulnerable North Koreans, including 1.8 million children who need urgent nutrition assistance.
The country was given $15 million in 2011, $12 million in 2012, $15 million in 2013, $6 million in 2014 and $8 million in 2015.