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Food and humanitarian crisis in North Korea

Food shortages in North Korea stem from limited arable land, a lack of fertiliser and machinery, and recurrent floods, droughts and heatwaves. Since the borders closed in January 2020, international UN and NGO staff have not been able to return to the country.

According to WFP estimates cited by the UN in August 2026, about 10.7 million people, more than 40 percent of the population, are undernourished and need assistance, and about 18 percent of children under five are stunted. The UN team operates from Bangkok, while about 50 national staff of six agencies work in Pyongyang. In 2025 UNICEF and Gavi delivered 3.3 million vaccine doses on six flights. In July 2026 the UN Resident Coordinator visited Pyongyang for the first time in more than six years. FAO rates 2026 harvest prospects as favourable, with localised flooding in July.

Numbers with sources

Needs

• food
• nutrition
• health
• water and sanitation

Who is helping

Organisations that, according to their own publications, work on this event (4). Donations go directly to each organisation's own website - GLOBURNS does not handle payments.

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
  FAO supports agriculture, livestock and food security in crisis-affected countries. In June 2026 it delivered veterinary vaccines into Darfur through a cross-border…
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
  UNICEF works for children's health, nutrition, education and protection in more than 190 countries. In Yemen it runs five field offices (Sana'a, Aden, Sa'ada, Hudaydah…
  Donate on the organisation's website (help.unicef.org)
• World Food Programme (WFP)
  WFP is the largest humanitarian organisation focused on food assistance. In Cox's Bazar it provides more than 1.1 million Rohingya refugees with e-voucher food…
  Donate on the organisation's website (wfp.org)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
  WHO directs international cooperation on public health and responds to health emergencies. In the occupied Palestinian territory it publishes situation reports and runs…
  Donate on the organisation's website (donate.who.foundation)

Sources

• unric.org unric.org/en/north-korea-40-of-population-is-undernourished/
• dprk.un.org dprk.un.org/en/node/301013
• dprk.un.org dprk.un.org/en/320178-un-resident-coordinator-visits-pyongyang
• dprk.un.org dprk.un.org/en/309984-2025-immunization-program
• fao.org fao.org/giews/countrybrief/country/PRK/pdf/PRK.pdf
• ecnk.univie.ac.at ecnk.univie.ac.at/detailansicht-categories/news/guest-lecture-humanitarian-aid-for-north…

Seed record, before editorial verification. Every number links to its source; report errors on the Corrections page. Methodology · Corrections

Other events in this category

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• Humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan South and Central Asia
• Humanitarian crisis in Syria Middle East
• Ebola epidemic in eastern DRC Central Africa
• Energy and humanitarian crisis in Cuba Caribbean
• Crisis in Venezuela and migration South America
• Drought and hunger in Somalia Horn of Africa
• Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar South Asia