North Korea forced to cut food rations to record low after 'worst harvest in a decade'
North Korea’s daily food rations have been cut to a record low this year after experiencing the worst harvest in a decade.
The Hermit State has rations to 300 grams a day — or 11 ounces - with further cuts likely the United Nations said on Friday.
According to US organisation The Nutrition Centre, a good mix of proteins, carbohydrates, fruit, vegetables and dairy products weighs 2 kilos per day per person.
The UN conducted a food assessment between March 29 to April 12, at the request of North Korea.
The organisation was given wide access to the country, including cooperative farms, nurseries, households and food distribution centres.
According to the survey, North Korean families were only consuming protein a few times a year.
The report also detailed how the country’s agricultural output of 4.9 million tonnes, the lowest since 2008-2009, had led to a food deficit of 1.36 million tonnes in the 2018/2019 marketing year.
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World Food Program spokesman Herve Verhoosel said. ‘This new food security assessment ... has found that following the worst harvests in 10 years, due to dry spells, heat waves and flooding, 10.1 million people suffer from severe food insecurity, meaning they do not have enough food till the next harvest.’
10.1 million people needed food aid, including 7.5 million of the 17.5 million North Koreans who depend on government rations plus 2.6 million collective farmers.
Mr Verhoosel said: ‘Prospects for the 2019 early season crops of wheat and barley are worrisome, with communities at risk as the lean season gets underway in June.
‘The effects of repeated climate shocks are compounded by shortages of fuel, fertiliser and spare parts crucial for farming.’
The World Food Program is to hold another assessment between July and August in order to gain a better understanding of the crisis.
The news is reminiscent of the famine that gripped North Korea in the mid 1990s that killed as many as 3 million people.
