Advertisement

U.N. food aid to North Korean children at risk of being terminated

By Elizabeth Shim
North Korean children, pregnant and breastfeeding women are at risk of malnutrition as the World Food Program faces a funding crisis. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI
North Korean children, pregnant and breastfeeding women are at risk of malnutrition as the World Food Program faces a funding crisis. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo

April 24 (UPI) -- International food aid to North Korean children may be suspended by October due to a lack of funds at the World Food Program, Voice of America reported.

The U.N. agency has been curtailing food aid in recent months and in March already announced it could no longer provide nutritional bars to 190,000 North Korean children.

Advertisement

On Monday, the WFP confirmed the shortage and added if funding deadlines are not met by the end of April, the agency has no choice but to suspend all food to children in the country.

The U.N. agency has been meeting the needs of North Korean preschoolers with micronutrient-fortified biscuits, which satisfies two-thirds of the U.N. recommended daily amount.

But the WFP's funding crisis could place North Korean children, pregnant and breastfeeding women at risk of malnutrition, the organization said.

Other groups, however, are undertaking relief projects in North Korea.

The London-based NGO Save the Children is expected to pursue two missions related to disaster aid, according to VOA.

The organization is using funds from the German government, to provide $220,000 of aid to North Korea's South Hamgyong Province and $440,000 of aid to North Hwanghae and Kangwon Provinces.

Advertisement

North Korea's humanitarian problem has often been overshadowed by Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threats.

On Monday U.S. President Donald Trump told U.N. Security Council members gathered at the White House the North Korea situation is unacceptable, PBS NewsHour reported.

"The council must be prepared to impose additional and stronger sanctions on North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile programs. This is a real threat to the world, whether we want to talk about it or not," Trump said. "North Korea is a big world problem, and it's a problem we have to finally solve. People have put blindfolds on for decades."

Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported Monday Chinese troops are amassing at the border with North Korea in preparation for a possible provocation that could take place on Tuesday, when Pyongyang is expected to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army.

Latest Headlines