A leading international humanitarian organization has questioned whether Japan's food donations to North Korea are reaching the most vulnerable people in the famine-hit country.
Fiona Terry, research director at Paris-based Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), said there is evidence most of the aid is going to government and military officials and others loyal to the reclusive government, citing the MSF's own experience of assisting North Korea from 1995 to 1998.
In a recent interview, Terry said Japan should insist the aid goes to all parts of the country and that Tokyo or a third party monitor aid distribution with direct access to local people. Tokyo will provide 500,000 tons of rice to the North in its latest aid shipment.