17 May 1999
TEXT: U.S. TO PROVIDE 400,000 TONS OF FOOD TO NORTH KOREA
(Glickman: U.S. has role to play in this humanitarian effort) (690) Washington -- Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman announced May 17 that the United States has agreed to donate 400,000 tons of food to North Korea. The food will be distributed through the United Nations' World Food Program (WFP). According to a press release issued by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) May 17, the food assistance is in addition to earlier U.S. pledges of food assistance for North Korea. On March 22, the United States pledged 100,000 tons of food assistance to the WFP for North Korea which is currently being shipped and part of which has already arrived. In addition, USDA says, the U.S. has announced it will provide 100,000 tons of food in connection with a pilot agricultural project in North Korea to help improve North Korea's potato yield and rebuild damaged agricultural infrastructure. Last year, the United States donated a total of 500,000 tons of food to North Korea through the WFP. Following is the text of the USDA release: (begin text) Release No. 0215.99 UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE 400,000 TONS OF FOOD TO NORTH KOREA WASHINGTON, D.C., May 17, 1999 -- Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman announced today that the United States has agreed to donate 400,000 tons of food to North Korea. The food will be distributed through the United Nations' World Food Program (WFP). "Based on reports we have received, the situation in North Korea is desperate. Children and adults are severely malnourished, and the United States clearly has a role to play to help out in this humanitarian effort," Glickman said. "We have a tremendous surplus of commodities in this country and we are pleased to be a reliable supplier of food. Our efforts help not only the hungry in North Korea, but also American farmers who are suffering from a farm crisis here at home." The United States will provide food in response to a WFP appeal for humanitarian food assistance to address the severe food shortages in North Korea. In April, the WFP made an appeal for 585,000 tons of humanitarian food assistance to feed targeted vulnerable groups including children and the elderly in North Korea. The appeal covers the period of July 1999 through June 2000. Other donor countries are expected to help meet the remaining need. J. Brian Atwood, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, said, "We continue to believe that North Korea faces a major humanitarian emergency. The production shortfall below minimum requirements is believed to be approximately 1.5 million tons this crop year. A recent study by UNICEF, the WFP and European Union indicates malnutrition among children has been a problem for several years, resulting in stunting among more than 62 percent of children. The North Koreans themselves acknowledge increased death rates resulting from the shortage of food. This additional food aid will help support the vulnerable populations." The donated commodities will be provided under USDA's section 416(b) program and USAID's Title II program under P.L. 480. USDA and USAID will develop the specific mix of commodities in consultation with the WFP and the government of North Korea. The food assistance announced today is in addition to earlier U.S. pledges of food assistance for North Korea. On March 22, the United States pledged 100,000 tons of food assistance to the WFP for North Korea which is currently being shipped and part of which has already arrived. In addition, the U.S. has announced it will provide 100,000 tons of food in connection with a pilot agricultural project in North Korea to help improve North Korea's potato yield and rebuild damaged agricultural infrastructure. Last year, the United States donated a total of 500,000 tons of food to North Korea through the WFP. U.S. donations to North Korea are part of President Clinton's Food Aid Initiative under which the United States will provide a record level of nearly 10 million tons of food to needy people around the world in 1999. (end text)
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