UN seeks $415.6 million for humanitarian assistance to DPRK
Press Release IHA/647
NEW YORK, 12 February (Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) --The United Nations today launched
the consolidated inter-agency appeal for the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea, requesting $415.6 million for urgently required humanitarian
assistance to avert famine and carry out other life- saving measures. The
document includes the World Food Programme (WFP) appeal of 6 January, which
had called for $378.2 million for 657,972 tons of food aid.
While generous and timely contributions
from the international community during 1997 averted famine, the humanitarian
situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea still remains precarious.
Drought and typhoons have exacerbated the earlier damage to the infrastructure
of the country, and the food aid requirements of vulnerable groups have
risen to an unprecedented level. A crop and food assessment mission undertaken
by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the WFP in the fall
of 1997 estimated that the unmet food requirements for 1998 would be over
1 million tons. Bilateral food shipments are expected to cover slightly
over one third of the needs, leaving the balance to be met by the WFP.
The appeal aims to prevent the current
situation from developing into famine and to assist in creating the conditions
favourable to sustainable development. The food aid to be provided
is targeted to meet the needs of 7,470,000 people, including 5,520,000
children, and will be complemented by support in health services to prevent
widespread malnutrition among children. The United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) will undertake curative
and preventive health activities; in addition, UNICEF will distribute educational
materials to children's centres. The FAO, together with UNICEF and the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will be working together to
increase food production and security, and to rehabilitate agricultural
areas. Other activities will focus on food-for-work and water and sanitation
services. The efforts by organizations of the United Nations system will
be complemented by those of the International Federation of the Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies and by non-governmental organizations
in-country.
Donors are requested to contribute generously
to the appeal in order to alleviate the suffering of the people of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea.