En større FN-mission har fået adgang til det lukkede land og besøgt ni provinser – resultatet er både opmuntrende (på kort sigt) og nedslående (på lang sigt), da flere millioner nordkoreanere fortsat lider af kronisk underernæring.
ROME, 12 November 2012: There has been an increase in production of staple food (grundnæringsmidler) in North Korea for the second year running but under-nutrition persists for nearly three million people, according to a new United Nations assessment released Monday.
The joint Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission, conducted by the world body’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP), found that overall production for the main 2012 harvest and 2013 early season crops is expected to be 5,8 million metric tons, an improvement of 10 per cent over last year.
“This, however, should not mask an ongoing struggle with under-nutrition and a lack of vital protein and fat in the diet (kosten), especially for an estimated 2,8 million vulnerable people,” the agencies jointly stated.
The Assessment Mission, which visited all nine agricultural provinces in late September and early October, around the main annual cereal (korn) harvest, was particularly concerned about a 30 per cent decline in soybean production.
It was also concerned with the limited quantity of vegetables available, perpetuating (forlænger) a chronic lack of key proteins, oils, fats, vitamins and micronutrients in most diets.
Mindste fødevareunderskud i årevis
North Korea needs to import 507.000 metric tons of cereals to meet its basic food needs, according to the Assessment Mission. Even if the Government’s cereal import target of 300.000 metric tons is met, this would leave a staple food deficit (underskud) of 207.000 metric tons – the lowest in many years.
“The country needs to produce more protein-rich foods like soybean and fish and to put more effort into growing two crops a year so a more varied diet is available for everyone,” said an FAO economist and co-leader of the Assessment Mission, Kisan Gunjal.
He recommended household vegetable gardens to help improve nutrition as well as changes to the agricultural marketing system to allow farmers to sell their rice, maize and wheat at market.
While levels of acute malnutrition have declined, there is still concern as many young children remain highly vulnerable to shocks. It is important to have a more steady supply of specialised nutritious foods such as fortified (berigede) biscuits and nutritious blended foods, including ‘Super Cereal,’ during the lean season.
Optimisme hos WFP
“This assessment has shown very clearly that we are having an impact in our work to address under-nutrition and it is vital that our programme continues to reach over one million children in nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools with predictable and adequate supplies,” said WFP’s Country Director for North Korea, Claudia von Roehl.
“The new harvest figures are good news, but the lack of proteins and fats in the diet is alarming,” she noted, adding:
“We must double our efforts to reach two million children with a steady stream of nutritious foods and so provide a more balanced, healthy diet.”
Kilde: FNs Nyhedstjeneste
Man kan se hele FNs rapport om Nordkorea på
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/newsroom/docs/SRDPRK1112%5B1%5D.pdf
Se også telegrammet
http://www.u-landsnyt.dk/nyhed/03-11-12/fn-til-nordkorea-brug-mindre-p-milit-ret-mere-p-ma
