News Release

13 June 2003


RUSSIA MAKES A LANDMARK PLEDGE OF FOOD AID FOR NORTH KOREA AND ANGOLA


ROME – The World Food Programme today hailed its first ever donation from the Russian Federation, a US$11 million contribution to the U.N. agency’s under-funded emergency operations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Angola.

“This is a truly historic development. With this substantial pledge, it is giving life-saving assistance to millions of hungry people in two of the neediest countries on the planet”, said WFP Executive Director James Morris.

“We are delighted to welcome one of the world’s great nations into our family of donors, and look forward to developing a long-term partnership.”

The Russian government is providing US$10 million for WFP’s 2003 emergency operation in the DPRK, which is designed to feed 6.4 million of the crisis-ridden country’s most vulnerable – mainly children, women and elderly people. The funds are to be used to purchase some 40,000 tonnes of Russian wheat, with deliveries beginning in August.

While the DPRK operation has suffered significant resourcing shortfalls over the past year, depriving as many as half the targeted beneficiaries of vital supplemental rations, the Russian contribution, and recent pledges by other donors*, will enable WFP to reach most of those deemed especially in need until October.

The contributions will also facilitate the continued operation of WFP-supported factories producing enriched blended foods, biscuits and noodles for women and children particularly at risk, and the implementation of food-for-work schemes that seek to promote longer-term food security.

WFP said additional contributions totaling 80,000 tonnes of commodities were required for it to be able to fully implement its programme for the remainder of the year, noting that it can take up to four months, and sometimes longer, for the food to arrive in-country after a pledge is made.

The agency primarily targets urban residents in the DPRK who cannot easily obtain food outside the government-run Public Distribution System, which serves some 70 per cent of the 23 million population. The PDS presently provides an average of 250 grams of food per person per day – less than half a survival ration – down from 300 grams in January-April.

A recent survey sponsored by WFP and UNICEF indicated that 42 per cent of young children and 30 per cent of mothers in the DPRK are still chronically malnourished but food aid has made a dent in lessening these figures substantially.

In Angola WFP assists an average of 1.5 million people, including demobilized soldiers and their families, as well as the internally displaced who were cut off from humanitarian assistance during the country’s civil war. WFP food is also being distributed to Angolan refugees from neighboring countries who are being repatriated starting this month and who will need food assistance in order to survive until the next harvest in March/April 2004.

With peace in Angola now a reality, WFP food aid is playing a vital role to help the vulnerable part of the population regain their livelihoods and reconstruct their country through food-for-work schemes, which involve the reconstruction of schools and destroyed infrastructure, and food-for-training projects, which provide education in agricultural techniques and HIV awareness.

The donation will be used to purchase commodities in Russia.

*(The following countries have pledged contributions to WFP’s operations in DPRK: United States, Australia, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, European Union, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland).

* * *


WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency. In 2002 WFP fed 72 million people in 82 countries including most of the world’s refugees and internally displaced people.

WFP Global School Feeding Campaign -- As the largest provider of nutritious meals to poor school children, WFP has launched a global campaign aimed at ensuring the world’s 300 million undernourished children are educated.
For more information please contact:

Trevor Rowe
WFP Chief Spokesperson
WFP Rome
Tel.: +39-06-65132602

Mia Turner
Public Affairs Officer
WFP Rome
Tel.: +39-06-65132253

Gerald Bourke
Public Affairs Officer
WFP Beijing
Tel.: +86-10-65323731 ext.209

Marcelo SpinaHering
Public Affairs Officer
WFP Luanda
Tel.: +244-91-503197