Prompt relief averts famine
in Democratic People's Republic of Korea

In the first half of the 1990s, economic difficulties and the poor state of agriculture in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea reduced the country's food stocks to almost zero. Consequently, when widespread floods destroyed large crop areas and vital agricultural structures in 1995, a serious food emergency developed. In July 1996 flooding again reduced domestic food production and exacerbated the ongoing emergency. The country was obliged to appeal for international assistance. Furthermore, in June and July 1997 very little rain fell, and a severe drought resulted.

Throughout the emergency FAO has played a crucial role in alerting the international community to the gravity and extent of the disaster and in promoting responses to it. FAO has participated actively in the Department of Humanitarian Affairs-led UN consolidated appeals, the issuance of several special alerts and the organization of special donors' consultations and briefings at FAO headquarters in Rome. International response has been considerable; food relief provided so far includes 70 000 tonnes in emergency assistance and 400 000 tonnes in programme assistance.

Under the aegis of the 1997/98 consolidated appeal for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, FAO called for the urgent funding of the most immediate requirements for the agriculture sector, including support to increased cereal and vegetable production through double cropping, the repair and rehabilitation of irrigation systems and the rehabilitation of flood-affected land. In June 1997, FAO appealed on behalf of the government for the urgent supply of fertilizer to boost rice production. FAO is also providing technical assistance for the overall coordination of the emergency agricultural rehabilitation programme.

Donors contributing to the agricultural relief and rehabilitation programme have included: the European Community (EC), Norway, Switzerland, UNDP, Sweden, the Netherlands, World Vision, CARE Norway and FAO's Technical Cooperation Programme. Support to the double-cropping programme launched by the government enabled the introduction of barley and vegetables on 37 000 ha.