SECOND WFP FOOD SHIPMENT LEAVES FOR DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Press Release
WFP/1029
SECOND WFP FOOD SHIPMENT LEAVES FOR DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
19960311 ROME, 11 March (WFP) -- The World Food Programme's (WFP) second shipment of rice for flood victims in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea left Bangkok today for the port of Nampo.Officials of the Programme, the United Nations food aid arm, said that the WFP-chartered freighter, the MV Chengda, was carrying 5,635 tons of WFP rice, brought in Thailand. The Chinese freighter was also carrying 903 tons of rice that the WFP is shipping to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for Caritas.
The ship is expected to arrive in Nampo in 10 to 12 days, depending on maritime conditions, shipping officials in Bangkok said.
The shipment marks the second WFP consignment of rice to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea since the country suffered widespread flooding last summer. The WFP delivered an initial shipment of 5,140 tons on 24 November last year.
Pyongyang issued an unprecedented appeal for international aid last year after the flooding -- the worst natural disaster in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's history -- displaced half a million people and left 100,000 families destitute. Out of the 500,000 displaced people, 55,000 are children under the age of five.
After the appeal, the WFP said $8.8 million was needed to feed the half million for 90 days. The programme is currently finalizing plans for a third shipment of about 7,300 tons of rice. The third shipment is expected to arrive in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by mid-April.
Sweden has donated $2.5 million; the United States, $2 million; Switzerland, $1.7 million; Denmark, $504,504; Australia, $375,727; Norway, 116,000; Finland, $22,727; and a private individual in the United Kingdom, $15,000.
The Programme's operations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which began after Pyongyang made its extraordinary appeal, marked the first United Nations food aid every sent there. Under an agreement reached with Pyongyang, the WFP has been given access to remote parts of the country, areas never before visited by international humanitarian agencies, and has monitored the distribution of their food.
- 2 - Press Release WFP/1029 11 March 1996
The WFP almost closed its office in Pyongyang -- the first resident office ever opened in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by an international humanitarian agency -- early this year before donors began responding to repeated appeals for aid.
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