KOREA, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF* (4 August)

Although rains during May were above normal, in June and July very little rainfall was received resulting in severe drought, officially reported to be the worst in over sixty years. In addition, average temperatures in July in some areas were above 35 degrees Celsius, three to five degrees above normal. The lack of rainfall coupled with high temperatures have meant that large numbers of reservoirs, rivers and streams had dried up, seriously affecting crop growth and irrigation supplies. The maize crop in northern agricultural parts of the country has been particularly affected, though recent reports indicate that paddy in the south have also been damaged. In view of the severity of the drought an FAO/WFP drought assessment mission is currently visiting the country to assess damage.

In July/August 1995 and 1996 heavy rainfall and widespread floods significantly reduced domestic food production and extensively damaged agricultural structures and arable land. In addition to weather hazards, food production continues to be seriously constrained by the lack of agricultural inputs, especially fertilizers. As a result of input constraints and damage to the sector, cereal production this year is expected to remain well below needs, even if weather remains favourable.

In view of falling productivity in agriculture in May 1997 the government assessed the quantity of fertilizer needed for 1997 rice planting at 50 000 tons. FAO conveyed this request to the international community and have pledges of some 29 000 tons. Earlier, FAO assisted the country with a double cropping programme covering 37 000 hectares of barley to enhance food production. The programme is expected to produce 37 000 tons.

The dramatic decrease in food supply in the country over the past two years has resulted in a significant increase in dietary problems and malnutrition, which in some segments of the population has become chronic and life threatening. A joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission in May, observed that the emergence of commonly recognized pre-famine indicators suggest that starvation will ensue in segments of the population before the next harvest in the absence of significant food imports. In an effort to determine the extent of malnutrition in the country WFP in collaboration with FAO, UNICEF and SCF (UK) will undertake a nutrition assessment in August/September.

In June, it was estimated that the country still carried a significant deficit of some 940 000 tons, allowing for commercial imports of 430 000 tons of cereals, multilateral/bilateral food assistance of around 560 000 tons and reductions in the use of grain for animal feed and industrial uses. At the end of July multilateral/bilateral food assistance totaled 710 000 tons. On 2 July, FAO and WFP jointly approved a revised emergency operation for $46 million dollars for assistance to 2.6 million children six years and under, 250 000 farmers under food-for-work activities and one million hospital patients, bringing the total case load to 4.7 million people. The revised emergency operation aims to increase cereal rations to children from 100 grams to 250 grams per caput/day and also provide extra quantities of high energy biscuits and dried skimmed milk for malnourished children.