Background
North Korea experienced floods in 1995 and 1996 that destroyed about 50% of the country's harvest. Also, environmental degradation related to deforestation increased the severity of damage caused by heavy rainfall through silting and loss of topsoil. In 1997, a drought followed by typhoons and a tidal wave caused one of the worst crops in years. The situation was exacerbated by the loss of North Korea's long-time trading partners with the breakup of the Soviet bloc. The increasing isolation of North Korea in the post-Cold War era has left the country short of the foreign capital necessary to buy food to make up its production shortfalls. In addition to the lack of food, North Korea also suffers from energy and fuel shortages as well as drastic shortages of medicine and medical supplies. The combination of these factors leads to the long-term damage to the health of the undernourished population.
The daily food rations for North Koreans on the public distribution system now stand at 350 calories. In contrast, the average daily food intake in the USA is 2500 calories. The World Food Program's representative in Pyongyang reported that the daily food ration in North Korea was slashed recently from a range of between 15.75 to 17.5 ounces a day--the "minimum needed" for an adult-- to between 7 and 10.5 ounces a day.
Out of a population of 23.2 million, including about 2.6 million children under 6 years old, at least 20% are reported to be suffering from malnutrition. The Korean Buddhist Sharing Movement, based on a survey of 472 refugees along the North Korea - China border, estimates that 3 million people have died of starvation and disease since August 1995, a 29 percent death rate. The heaviest death rates are among children between 0-6 years old at 45 percent and elderly people above 60 at 74 percent.
They also maintain that approximately 2 million tons of aid will be necessary this year to sustain the country's population. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has said that the situation in hospitals is critical, as increased incidences of diseases caused by malnutrition are exacerbated by the lack of medicines in hospitals (SOURCE: Hunger Relief Fund for North Korea)
Current Situation
A survey conducted by UNICEF and the WFP showed that almost two out of three children under eight years of age experience moderate to severe malnutrition and 62 percent of children under seven have stunted growth, a symptom of long-term malnutrition. The WFP is currently providing food to six million people (SOURCE: Relief Web, 30 December 1998)
According to an FAO/WFP special report, Korea DPR will enter 1999 with a large food deficit with domestic cereal production covering minimum consumption needs of the population for only eight months. This year's cereal harvests are estimated at 3.48 million tonnes, just over 30 percent up on last year's severely reduced crop of 2.66 million tonnes. The FAO/WFP assessment mission that visited the country in October, found that "a combination of beneficial weather conditions and international assistance with fertilizers has led to some recovery in this year's harvest".
Nevertheless, imports of some 1.35 million tonnes of food grain will be needed in 1998/99, including 1.05 million tonnes as food assistance.
The report calls for targeted food aid - some 480 000 tonnes primarily for children,hospital patients, and pregnant and nursing women. The remaining cereal shortfall will be needed to help the general population meet its minimum needs. Much will be given as food-for-work. The report stresses that food aid is only a short-term palliative to DPR Korea's ills, which are born of major economic problems and "a deep rooted structural malaise", compounded by the natural disasters of recent years. "To ensure future food security, it is imperative that the international assistance to agriculture be increased substantially from its current low levels", the report says. Furthermore, "solutions that address the major economic difficulties" are crucial (SOURCE: FAO December 21 1998)
International Famine Centre, January 13th 1999
For more information on these or other activities, please contact the Centre Director, Stephen Jackson on 00 353 21 903395 (or by email at s.jackson@ucc.ie or FamineCentre@ucc.ie).