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WFP: Humanitarian Aid Needed to Ease Malnutrition in North Korea

Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) David Beasley on Friday returned from his visit to North Korea and called for more humanitarian assistance to the country to meet basic nutrition needs of young children and mothers.
Sputnik

"I see a country that is working hard to achieve food security and good nutrition … There is a real need for continued humanitarian assistance, especially when it comes to meeting the nutritional needs of mothers and young children," Beasley said, as quoted in a WFP press release.

Earlier the day, Beasley finished a four-day visit to North Korea, during which he visited Pyongyang, met with senior government officials, and inspected WFP projects in different parts of the country.

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According to the agency, WFP aims to provide food assistance to 650,000 women and children in the country every month to address major gaps in their diets.

Funding shortfalls, however, led to rations being reduced or even suspended in some cases, WFP added.

Last month, UN Resident Coordinator in North Korea Tapan Mishra said that a total of $111 million in humanitarian was needed to assist millions of North Koreans, including minors, whose growth stunted due to malnutrition.

According to the UN data, an estimated 10.3 million people across North Korea continue suffering from food insecurity and poor nutrition, as well as the lack of access to basic services.

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