In brief

Programme summary: In late 2005, the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) requested that international agencies shift humanitarian aid towards development programmes. The DPRK Red Cross launched in 2006 a stable and ambitious programme supported by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (The Federation) with a total budget of CHF 26 million. Within a three-year cooperation agreement strategy (CAS) with main Red Cross partners,

(Regular Briefing by Minister)

Minister of Unification Lee Jae-joung gave a regular briefing on June 14 and explained several issues including the assessment of the inter-Korean relations and future plan, the significance of the Grand National Unification Festival, and giving food aid to the North through WFP, etc.

The Assessment of the Inter-Korean Relations and Future Plan

Minister Lee Jae-joung said 19 times of inter-Korean talks were held during the first half of this year and after the 21st Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks, several talks were held

World cereal production in 2007 remains on course to reach a record level of 2 095 million tonnes, but with some major crops yet to be planted, the forecast is still tentative.

Based on the current 2007 production outlook, global cereal supplies are forecast to increase in the new 2007/08 marketing season. However, with carryover stocks at their lowest level since the early 80s, total supplies would still be barely adequate to meet the anticipated demand, which is forecast to increase strongly boosted by the fast-growing biofuels industry.

Good Friends, which focuses on assistance to the North, said up to 70 percent of food stored by city residents has been used up due to a poor harvest last year and insufficent foreign food aid.

"There are no concerns about a famine like that in the mid-1990s but the chronic food shortage has been aggravating

The Federation's vision is to strive, through voluntary action, for a world of empowered communities, better able to address human suffering and crises with hope, respect for dignity and a concern for equity. Its mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 185 countries.

In Brief

Programme update no. 3,

Appeal target: East Asia Appeal (regional

The October 21-23 storm was one of the strongest to hit the North so far this year but there were no reports of deaths because of a warning system, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said.

It hit parts of Kangwon province on the east coast, damaging or destroying 732 homes and flooding 366 others, according to the report.