North Korea’s Food Production Hits Lowest Rates: UN

By: Norhan Mahmoud 

CAIRO, Mar. 6 (SEE)- Last year, North Korea’s harvest levels plunged to unprecedented figures in more than a decade, as per the United Nations. 

The nation’s food production was severely impacted by natural disasters and global sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic arsenal programs. So, millions of citizens had no option but to endure the chronic food crisis. 

“Most concerning is that overall food production in 2018 which was more than 9 per cent lower than 2017 and is the lowest production in more than a decade,” said Tapan Mishra, UN resident coordinator in North Korea, in a statement. 

Unfortunately, 11 million citizens gain no access to nourishment, safe drinking water and health services. Also, 16% of the overall population are cut off sanitation facilities. 

Such havoc foreshadows a catastrophic future for the upcoming generations. 

Meanwhile, an aid of $120 is needed to prolong the devastated lives of 3.8 million humans out of the total 10.9 millions in need. Otherwise, humanitarian agencies will suspend their projects due to  insufficient funds. 

The UN’s Needs and Priorities Plan‘s focus on allocating donations for “the most vulnerable including 1.6 million under-five children, and almost 395,000 pregnant and lactating women.”

“I urge all our potential donors and stakeholders to not let political considerations get in the way of addressing humanitarian need, and I strongly appeal to them to invest in life-saving humanitarian assistance in DPRK, especially for the needy and vulnerable populations,” stressed Mishra. “The human cost of our inability to respond is unmeasurable.”