The World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday appealed for 202 million dollars this year to assist 6.5 million North Koreans threatened by famine. The funds sought should cover 500,000 tons of food aid needed by the most vulnerable North Koreans, the U.N. agency said. The WFP said two-thirds of North Korea's population of 23.7 million are dependent on the Pyongyang-run Public Distribution System, which provides rations mostly to city residents. Even those subsidized by the government have seen their rations reduced to 250 grams of staples a day, which barely meet half of their calorie needs. But the most vulnerable and those apparently without subsidies are the 6.5 million people identified by WFP. Among that group are 2.7 million children in nurseries, kindergartens, primary schools and orphanages. "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea still faces severe food shortages as it seeks to diversify its economy," said Richard Ragan, WFP representative in Pyongyang. "Our goal is to ease the shock to the most vulnerable as they make this transition." Ragan said millions of North Korean children, women and elderly lack nourishment both in quantity and quality. WFP said last year that it spent 171 million dollars to assist the same number of 6.5 million North Koreans. --SP 2319 Local Time 2019 GMT
