Drought: prolonged dry spell affect the plantings and yield potential of food crops in DPRK

A prolonged dry spell from April to early June 2015 in the main growing areas of DPR Korea affected the plantings and yield potential of food crops for the rest of the year.(FAO, 17 Jun 2015) About US$6.3 million was allocated from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to respond to urgent needs. This funding has enabled UN agencies to rapidly scale up response operations and provide 1.3 million people, including 790,000 women and children, with life-saving assistance in four of the most affected provinces of South Hwanghae, North Hwanghae, South Pyongan and South Hamgyong. (OCHA, 13 Aug 2015)

On 29 January 2016, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released US$ 8 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for severely underfunded aid operations in DPR Korea. These funds will enable life-saving assistance for more than 2.2 million people most vulnerable and at risk of malnutrition. In DPR Korea, chronic malnutrition (stunting) among under-five children is at 27.9 per cent, while 4 per cent of under-five children are acutely malnourished (wasting). Around 70 per cent of the population, or 18 million people, are considered food insecure. (OCHA, 2 Feb 2016)

DPR Korea's total food production - including cereals, soybeans and potatoes in cereal equivalent - is estimated to have fallen in 2015, the first drop since 2010. FAO's estimate for the country's cereal import requirements for the 2015/16 marketing year (November-October) amounts to 694,000 tonnes. With 300,000 tonnes expected to be covered by government imports, the uncovered deficit of 394,000 tonnes represents the highest gap since 2011/12. (FAO, 27 Apr 2016)