Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME5830
2002-12-03 14:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

WFP LAUNCHES NORTH KOREA EMERGENCY OPERATION FOR

Tags:  EAID PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN KS UN 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ROME 005830 

SIPDIS

GAO FOR PTHOMAS

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

AMEMBASSY BEIJING FOR AMBASSADOR RANDT AND USDA/FAS LARRY
SENGER
AMEMBASSY SEOUL FOR AMBASSADOR HUBBARD AND USDA/FAS GRANT
PETRIE
AMEMBASSY TOKYO FOR AMBASSADOR BAKER AND USDA/FAS HALE
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, EAP/CM, AND IO/D
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND RTILSWORTH
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, AND
D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USDOC FOR IEP/OPB/EAP
TREASURY FOR OASIA/WINGLE AND ITT/CHANG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN KS UN KS EAID UN KS EAID UN
SUBJECT: WFP LAUNCHES NORTH KOREA EMERGENCY OPERATION FOR
2003 - USD 201.08 MILLION

REF: (A) ROME 5392

-------
SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS ROME 005830

SIPDIS

GAO FOR PTHOMAS

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

AMEMBASSY BEIJING FOR AMBASSADOR RANDT AND USDA/FAS LARRY
SENGER
AMEMBASSY SEOUL FOR AMBASSADOR HUBBARD AND USDA/FAS GRANT
PETRIE
AMEMBASSY TOKYO FOR AMBASSADOR BAKER AND USDA/FAS HALE
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, EAP/CM, AND IO/D
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND RTILSWORTH
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, AND
D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USDOC FOR IEP/OPB/EAP
TREASURY FOR OASIA/WINGLE AND ITT/CHANG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN KS UN KS EAID UN KS EAID UN
SUBJECT: WFP LAUNCHES NORTH KOREA EMERGENCY OPERATION FOR
2003 - USD 201.08 MILLION

REF: (A) ROME 5392

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. ON DECEMBER 2, WORLD FOOD PROGRAM LAUNCHED ITS 2003
EMERGENCY OPERATION (EMOP) FOR NORTH KOREA - ONE YEAR
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 05830 01 OF 03 031555Z
(JANUARY- DECEMBER 2003),VALUED AT USD 201.08 MILLION, TO
ASSIST 6.4 MILLION PEOPLE - MAINLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN - WHO
WILL STILL NEED FOOD ASSISTANCE IN SPITE OF A SLIGHT
INCREASE IN PROJECTED HARVESTS. WFP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JAMES
MORRIS VISITED NORTH KOREA, CHINA, SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN
DURING NOVEMBER 2002, AND IS SERIOUSLY CONCERNED WITH THE
SIZEABLE RATCHETING DOWN OF BENEFICIARY COVERAGE (BY THREE
MILLION) DUE TO LACK OF DONOR SUPPORT. CLEARLY, LACK OF ANY
JAPANESE FOOD ASSISTANCE SUPPORT DURING 2002 (THEY
CONTRIBUTED 320,000 METRIC TONS IN 2001) - HAS HURT THE

PROGRAM. MORRIS' STATEMENT TO THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL ON
DECEMBER 3 (WHERE HE WILL HIGHLIGHT INTER ALIA CURRENT FOOD
SHORTFALLS IN NORTH KOREA) AND SUBSEQUENT VISIT TO
WASHINGTON ON DECEMBER 5 WILL OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIRECT
DIALOGUE ON 2003 SUPPORT LEVELS AND THE CRITICAL NEED FOR
INCREASED WFP MONITORING AND ACCESS TO FOOD AID
DISTRIBUTIONS THROUGHOUT NORTH KOREA. END SUMMARY.

--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------


2. IN 2003, WFP ESTIMATES THAT 6.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE DPR
KOREA - MAINLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN - WILL STILL NEED FOOD
ASSISTANCE IN SPITE OF A SLIGHT INCREASE IN PROJECTED
HARVESTS. A JOINT FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT
MISSION, WHICH VISITED THE DPRK IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002
HAS FORECAST A 4.9 PERCENT INCREASE IN 2002/03 (NOVEMBER-
OCTOBER) PRODUCTION OVER LAST YEAR'S PRODUCTION. WHILE THIS
HELPS THE NATIONAL FOOD BALANCE SHEET, DOMESTIC PRODUCTION
WILL AGAIN FALL BELOW MINIMUM FOOD NEEDS AND THE COUNTRY
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 05830 01 OF 03 031555Z
WILL AGAIN HAVE TO DEPEND ON SUBSTANTIAL EXTERNAL FOOD
ASSISTANCE FOR THE NEXT YEAR AS ITS CAPACITY TO IMPORT
COMMERCIALLY IS HIGHLY CONSTRAINED.


3. SINCE 1995 WFP HAS DELIVERED ABOUT 3 MILLION TONNES OF
FOOD AID, MOSTLY CEREALS, TO THE DPRK. FOR 2002, UNDER
EMERGENCY OPERATION 10141.0, THE PROVISION OF 611,000 TONNES
OF FOOD AID WAS APPROVED TO ASSIST 6.4 MILLION PEOPLE AT A
TOTAL COST TO WFP OF USD 215.8 MILLION. HOWEVER, THE
OPERATION REMAINED LARGELY UNDER RESOURCED THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR. BY THE END OF 2002, LESS THAN 450,000 TONNES WILL
HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED. WFP FOOD SHORTAGES HAVE BECOME MOST
ACUTE IN THE LAST QUARTER OF THE YEAR AND, WITH FEW PLEDGES
MADE IN LATE 2002 FOR ARRIVAL IN 2003, THERE WILL BE VERY
LIMITED CARRY-OVER STOCKS. BY NOVEMBER, NEARLY 3 MILLION
NURSERY, KINDERGARTEN, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL
CHILDREN, AS WELL AS PREGNANT AND NURSING WOMEN - ALL ON THE
WEST COAST - WERE DENIED WFP RATIONS.

--------------
WFP'S PROPOSED 2003 EMOP
--------------


4. THE PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES OF WFP'S 2003 NORTH KOREA EMOP
ARE TO:

-SAVE LIVES BY PREVENTING FOOD SHORTAGES FROM DEVELOPING

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1017

PAGE 01 ROME 05830 02 OF 03 031556Z
ACTION EAP-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CA-01 CIAE-00
CTME-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00
DS-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00
UTED-00 FOE-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 MMP-00 AC-01
DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OCS-03 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01
OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00
IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 T-00 USIE-00
FMP-00 R-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02
G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /015W
-------------- 120412 031746Z /38
P 031424Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7179
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY BEIJING
AMEMBASSY SEOUL
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
USEU BRUSSELS 2986
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USDOC WASHDC
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05830 02 OF 03 031556Z
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 005830

SIPDIS

GAO FOR PTHOMAS

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

AMEMBASSY BEIJING FOR AMBASSADOR RANDT AND USDA/FAS LARRY
SENGER
AMEMBASSY SEOUL FOR AMBASSADOR HUBBARD AND USDA/FAS GRANT
PETRIE
AMEMBASSY TOKYO FOR AMBASSADOR BAKER AND USDA/FAS HALE
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, EAP/CM, AND IO/D
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND RTILSWORTH
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, AND
D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USDOC FOR IEP/OPB/EAP
TREASURY FOR OASIA/WINGLE AND ITT/CHANG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN KS UN KS EAID UN KS EAID UN
SUBJECT: WFP LAUNCHES NORTH KOREA EMERGENCY OPERATION FOR
2003 - USD 201.08 MILLION

INTO FAMINE CONDITIONS;
-MAINTAIN AND/OR IMPROVE THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF YOUNG
CHILDREN, WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE AND OTHER VULNERABLE
GROUPS;
-SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL RECOVERY THROUGH RELIEF AND
REHABILITATION FOOD FOR WORK PROJECTS.


5. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES WILL AIM AT REDUCING THE IMPACT OF
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 05830 02 OF 03 031556Z
NATURAL DISASTERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE ATTRIBUTED TO SEASONAL
TYPHOONS, AND MITIGATING THE POTENTIAL NEGATIVE AND
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC REFORMS ON THE FOOD
SECURITY OF CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION.


6. WFP'S PROGRAMME WILL CONTINUE TO TARGET SPECIFIC GROUPS
WITHIN THE POPULATION, WHO HAVE SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS AND/OR
HAVE NO WAY OF MEETING THEIR OWN MINIMUM ENERGY REQUIREMENTS
AND SOME OF THEIR MICRO-NUTRIENT NEEDS. THESE INCLUDE
CHILDREN FROM 6 MONTHS TO 10 YEARS, PREGNANT AND NURSING
WOMEN, THE ELDERLY AND THOSE PARTICULARLY AFFECTED BY
NATURAL DISASTERS AND THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. IN 2003, WFP
WILL SHIFT ITS TARGETING MORE TOWARDS THOSE DEPENDENT ON THE
PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, RESIDING PREDOMINANTLY IN URBAN
AREAS. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ORPHANS, WFP WILL EXCLUDE
FROM ITS COVERAGE RESIDENTS OF CENTRAL PYONGYANG.

--------------
WFP ACCESS AND MONITORING
--------------


7. WFP'S POLICY OF "NO ACCESS, NO FOOD" WILL CONTINUE. THIS
MEANS THAT ONLY THOSE COUNTIES/DISTRICTS WHERE WFP IS
GRANTED ACCESS WILL RECEIVE DISTRIBUTIONS. DUE TO CHANGES
IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SET-UP OF HAMHUNG CITY ANNOUNCED BY
THE GOVERNMENT IN LATE 2001, SEVEN DISTRICTS WERE MERGED
INTO TWO - HAMHUNG AND HUNGNAM CITIES. THE ACCESSIBLE
COUNTIES AND TOTAL COUNTIES FIGURES WERE THUS ADJUSTED (I.E.
EACH REDUCED BY FIVE) TO REFLECT THIS CHANGE. THEREFORE,
WFP CURRENTLY HAS ACCESS TO 163 OUT OF 206
COUNTIES/DISTRICTS. THIS ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 87 PERCENT OF
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 05830 02 OF 03 031556Z
WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE COUNTRY'S TOTAL CIVILIAN
POPULATION OF 22.6 MILLION.


8. NO NEW COUNTIES WERE OPENED TO WFP DURING 2002. THE MOST
RECENT COUNTY TO BE DECLARED ACCESSIBLE - SAKJU, IN NORTH
PYONGAN PROVINCE - WAS DONE SO IN OCTOBER 2001. WFP REMAINS
HIGHLY CONCERNED FOR THE PLIGHT OF POPULATION IN
INACCESSIBLE COUNTIES, AND IN 2003, WFP WILL CONTINUE ITS
EFFORTS TO GAIN ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL COUNTIES.


9. WFP WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO SEEK WIDER ACCESS TO
INFORMATION ON FARMERS' MARKETS AND PRICES IN ORDER TO
ACHIEVE A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE HOUSEHOLD FOOD
SECURITY SITUATION.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


10. WFP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JAMES MORRIS VISITED NORTH KOREA,
CHINA, SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN DURING NOVEMBER 2002 (REF A),
AND IS SERIOUSLY CONCERNED WITH THE SIZEABLE PRESENT
RATCHETING DOWN OF BENEFICIARY COVERAGE (BY THREE MILLION)
DUE TO LACK OF DONOR SUPPORT. CLEARLY, LACK OF ANY JAPANESE
FOOD ASSISTANCE DURING 2002 (THEY CONTRIBUTED 320,000 METRIC
TONS IN 2001) - HAS HURT THE PROGRAM. MORRIS' STATEMENT TO
THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 3 (WHERE HE WILL

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1018

PAGE 01 ROME 05830 03 OF 03 031556Z
ACTION EAP-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CA-01 CIAE-00
CTME-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00
EXME-00 EUR-00 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 FOE-00
VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 ITC-01
LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 MMP-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 OCS-03 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00
PM-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00
SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 T-00 USIE-00 FMP-00 R-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
SWCI-00 /015W
-------------- 120419 031746Z /38
P 031424Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7180
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY BEIJING
AMEMBASSY SEOUL
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
USEU BRUSSELS 2987
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USDOC WASHDC
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05830 03 OF 03 031556Z
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 005830

SIPDIS

GAO FOR PTHOMAS

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

AMEMBASSY BEIJING FOR AMBASSADOR RANDT AND USDA/FAS LARRY
SENGER
AMEMBASSY SEOUL FOR AMBASSADOR HUBBARD AND USDA/FAS GRANT
PETRIE
AMEMBASSY TOKYO FOR AMBASSADOR BAKER AND USDA/FAS HALE
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, EAP/CM, AND IO/D
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND RTILSWORTH
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, AND
D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USDOC FOR IEP/OPB/EAP
TREASURY FOR OASIA/WINGLE AND ITT/CHANG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN KS UN KS EAID UN KS EAID UN
SUBJECT: WFP LAUNCHES NORTH KOREA EMERGENCY OPERATION FOR
2003 - USD 201.08 MILLION

HIGHLIGHT INTER ALIA CURRENT FOOD SHORTFALLS IN NORTH KOREA)
AND VISIT TO WASHINGTON ON DECEMBER 5 WILL OFFER
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIRECT DIALOGUE ON 2003 SUPPORT LEVELS AND
THE CRITICAL NEED FOR INCREASED WFP MONITORING AND ACCESS TO
FOOD AID DISTRIBUTIONS THROUGHOUT NORTH KOREA. HEILEMAN

UNCLASSIFIED

>
2002ROME05830 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED