MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce Australia is contributing $5 million
to the World Food Programme (WFP) and $580,000 to the United Nations Children's
Fund (UNICEF) for their humanitarian assistance activities in the Democratic
Peoples' Republic of Korea (DPRK).
My discussions with the Government and aid agencies operating
in the DPRK highlighted the poor prospects for food security. The short-term
food situation is particularly precarious. Of major concern is ensuring children
and other vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and the elderly, receive
sufficient nutrition.
The Australian Government's aid agency, AusAID, will contribute
$5 million to WFP for the purchase and delivery of Australian wheat. The
consignment of 12,000 tonnes of wheat from New South Wales will leave Newcastle
16 November.
Working closely with the DPRK Government, WFP's emergency
operation has benefited more than eight million people from a range of targeted
vulnerable areas, including hospitals, nurseries, kindergartens and schools.
In meetings in Pyongyang I urged the DPRK to work with
international agencies to conduct a follow up survey of nutritional needs. A
previous survey in 1998 was instrumental in highlighting areas of critical need
and provided a sound basis for more effective planning and targeting of
nutritional assistance.
With a view to further assisting the DPRK in this area of
critical nutritional need, Australia will contribute $580,000 to a UNICEF
program for the severely malnourished, targeting two million children and
five-hundred thousand mothers. Severely malnourished children require frequent
feeds of high-energy foods. Australia's contribution to this project will help
with the production of these special foods.
Total Australian development assistance to the DPRK for
2000/2001 is estimated at $7.6 million. This brings development assistance
Australia has provided to the DPRK to a total of $33.3 million since 1996/7,
including $23.9 million in humanitarian aid.
PYONGYANG
Media Contacts:
James Baker (Ministerial) 02 6277 7500 / 0419 206 890
Fionna Douglas (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 / 0412 804 489