CERF allocates almost $10 million for Rapid Response in DPRK

CERF allocated nearly $10 million for approximately nine million people in need emergency assistance in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). As a result of a particularly harsh winter, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), is facing major food shortages.

The food crisis in DPRK constitutes one of the world’s most chronically underfunded humanitarian emergencies and as a result, the recent UN-led Rapid Food Security Assessment recommended that food assistance to the country be scaled up.

In response, CERF has allocated nearly $10 million to DPRK for life-saving projects in the food, agriculture, nutrition and health sectors. The World Food Programme (WFP) received over $7 million for emergency food assistance to vulnerable groups in DPRK. In order to respond to the current malnutrition crisis, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) received over $1 million.

UNICEF will assist children and mothers. Nearly $900,000 has been allocated to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the launch of an emergency vaccination campaign against foot-and-mouth disease. FAO has additionally received $400,000 for food security and nutrition programs aimed at vulnerable farming families during their main planting season. Finally, nearly $400,000 has been allocated to the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to enhance maternal and child nutrition services.