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This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
Statement by Andrew S. Natsios, Administrator
United States Agency for International Development
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ANNOUNCEMENT
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-43202002-051
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2002Contact: USAID Press Office
Washington, DC -- The U.S. Agency for International Development announces an additional contribution of 100,000 metric tons of food aid from the United States to North Korea. This contribution follows a review of U.S. Government humanitarian food aid activities in North Korea and a decision by the United States to set a baseline for food contributions to North Korea at 155,000 metric tons this calendar year. With the new contribution of 100,000 metric tons, we will have fulfilled our baseline donation.
Funding for the 100,000 metric tons will come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Section 416(b) food aid program, and the commodities will be allocated to the World Food Program's emergency feeding operations. This contribution will help to remedy an anticipated break in July of WFP's food aid pipeline for North Korea. Total U.S. food aid to North Korea since 1995 is 1.9 million metric tons, valued at approximately $620 million.
As President Bush emphasized in Seoul, we are prepared to feed people in North Korea, in spite of our ongoing concerns regarding the policies of the DPRK. The United States remains deeply concerned about the restrictions placed on food aid monitoring, the humanitarian community's lack of access to many North Korean counties, and the need for countrywide nutrition surveys according to internationally-accepted standards. We call upon North Korea to significantly expand access and permit improved monitoring for humanitarian programs and to implement an updated countrywide survey this year of children's nutritional status consistent with international standards. Consideration of additional food aid to North Korea will depend on verifiable progress in these areas.
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Last Updated on: December 30, 2008 |
