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03-20-2009, 03:06 PM
Pyongyang tells U.S. aid groups to close N. Korea food programme
20 Mar 2009 18:40:00 GMT
Source: AlertNet
Thin Lei Win
A coalition of five U.S. aid agencies has been told to stop its food aid programme for 900,000 people in North Korea, two months before it was due to be completed, in a further sign of the deteriorating relationship between the two countries.
On Tuesday, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said the reclusive North had informed Washington it would not accept further U.S. food assistance, which would have amounted to about 330,000 tonnes before the end of May.
The United States and North Korea agreed last May that Washington would provide 500,000 metric tonnes in food aid over a 12-month period. Wood said the United States had so far delivered 169,000 metric tonnes.
"We are saddened by this decision, but are very proud of what the programme has accomplished," said Mercy Corps, World Vision, Samaritan's Purse, Global Resources Services and Christian Friends of Korea in a joint statement (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/289513/123748997748.htm).
"Working closely with our North Korean partners, we have ensured that food reached almost one million vulnerable children, pregnant and nursing mothers, and the elderly," the groups said.Article continued at http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/123757468386.htm
20 Mar 2009 18:40:00 GMT
Source: AlertNet
Thin Lei Win
A coalition of five U.S. aid agencies has been told to stop its food aid programme for 900,000 people in North Korea, two months before it was due to be completed, in a further sign of the deteriorating relationship between the two countries.
On Tuesday, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said the reclusive North had informed Washington it would not accept further U.S. food assistance, which would have amounted to about 330,000 tonnes before the end of May.
The United States and North Korea agreed last May that Washington would provide 500,000 metric tonnes in food aid over a 12-month period. Wood said the United States had so far delivered 169,000 metric tonnes.
"We are saddened by this decision, but are very proud of what the programme has accomplished," said Mercy Corps, World Vision, Samaritan's Purse, Global Resources Services and Christian Friends of Korea in a joint statement (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/289513/123748997748.htm).
"Working closely with our North Korean partners, we have ensured that food reached almost one million vulnerable children, pregnant and nursing mothers, and the elderly," the groups said.Article continued at http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/123757468386.htm