Nearly 8,000 people in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas got aid under the
Government's food stamp programme in the past financial year.
The acting secretary of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, Melvin Faisao, says a a total of 7,656 clients were catered for in the 12-month period, mostly residents on Saipan.
The figure is a significant lift on the previous year with business shutdowns because of the economic decline to blame.