Canadian churches sent 10,000 tonnes of wheat and 1,320 tonnes of soybeans to North Korea through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Presbyterian World Service & Development is the lead agency for the shipment. CFGB member churches contributed more than $1 million,matched by more than $4 million from the Canadian International Development Agency.
The shipment left Vancouver on May 23. The food is expected to be distributed in August, when need is expected to be at its highest. The wheat and beans will be used to produce fortified food products for approximately 895,000 pregnant and nursing women and children. The United Nations reported that food shortages in North Korea were escalating to crisis levels and they were having to suspend rations to children, elderly people and poor households due to lack of food donations. – AM
