Russia’s donation of USD 3 million to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) for North Korean food aid was supplemented by an additional USD 500,000 (600 million KPW) from China, U.S.-based Voice of America (VOA) reported on January 10 .
VOA cited a January 9 email from Silke Buhr, WFP’s Regional Communications Officer For Asia.
“We received large amounts of funding from Russia and China in the middle of last month. The funds will be used to provide fortified foods for weaker individuals including children, lactating mothers, and pregnant women,” Buhr said.
“More than 70 percent of North Koreans are suffering from malnutrition, and most of them are surviving on diets lacking protein, fat, vitamins and minerals,” Buhr added.
In addition, VOA reported that Russia provided 2,500 tons of wheat and 4,700 tons of wheat flour to North Korea last year through the WFP. VOA also added that although China had been supporting North Korea for three years from 2013, the country did not provide any supplies during North Korea’s flood damage. However, China resumed support last month.
Meanwhile, WFP’s food aid to North Korea last year amounted to 24,468 tons, marking the smallest volume for the past 20 years due to a lack of contributions from the international community. As of January 9, the WFP funds amounted to 24.65 million dollars, a mere 19% of the target figure, according to VOA analysis.
