Korea (DPRK) - DHA: 15.Oct-15.Nov.97
Korea (DPRK) - DHA: 15.Oct-15.Nov.97
Situation Report from the DHA Coordinator
in the Democratic People's Republic of KOREA (DPRK)
Period covered: 15 October - 15 November 1997
HIGHLIGHTS
Access to different parts of the country continued to increase.
Multidisciplinary missions conducted assessments and concluded that in
spite of the positive impact of the relief efforts so far, a relapse can
occur during winter if a steady supply of food, drugs and medical
equipment is not maintained.
As of 11 November, the April 97 - March 98 CAP was 81.8 percent funded.
The food component (333,200 MTs) has reached a coverage of 118.2 percent
(393.844 MTs). The UNICEF requirements (USD 14.3 million) were covered
in 108.8 percent (USD 15.6 million). The FAO and UNDP food security
projects (USD 20.4 million) received contributions (USD 5.07 million)
equivalent to 24.5 percent of the needs.
Earth moving equipment donated by Republic of Korea (ROK) in the
framework of the UNDP Agricultural Relief and Rehabilitation Programme
(ARRP) is scheduled to arrive in Nampo Port on 22 November. UNDP
Pyongyang and Seoul successfully negotiated with the Governments of DPRK
and ROK a direct shipment from Inchon to Nampo, through the military
demarcation line. This rehabilitation equipment is worth USD 1.2
million.
GENERAL ASSESSMENT
The assessments conducted during the reporting period by resident and
non-resident multidisciplinary missions concluded that, in general, the
relief efforts have had a positive impact on the general living
conditions.
It was also noted that this effort must continue, especially with food,
drugs and medical equipment in order to avoid a renewed emergency. The
harshness of the coming winter and the need to strengthen the emergency
programmes as well as all aspects of recovery and food security will
continue to be points of concern for the coming months.
Despite a certain stabilisation of the overall humanitarian situation,
there is a definite need to continue and to increase assistance to
consolidate the early gains. It is becoming clearer to the different
agencies working in the country that the relief and rehabilitation
efforts should be better combined if recovery is the ultimate objective.
During the last four weeks, new areas have been accessed. The various
programme areas have been visited regularly in order to support and
monitor on-going activities. From June 97 to the end of October 97, the
areas visited by relief organisations have increased over three times.
WFP has opened a third field office in Sinuiju, and has kept all field
offices manned by international staff at all times. NGOs with programmes
in the East Coast provinces either have already opened or intend to open
offices in their areas of activity.
A FAO/WFP crop and food supply assessment mission completed an extensive
survey in the beginning of November. The final report, expected by the
end of November 1997, will indicate the cereal shortfall for the period
November 97-October 98.
A United States Government assessment mission also visited the country
to evaluate the current situation and aspects of relief assistance
delivery in general and of US funded aid in particular.
COORDINATION
The coordination mechanisms set up to respond to the increased presence
in the country of humanitarian organisations and to the expansion of the
relief programmes have been consolidated during the last month. The
health and food groups, led by UNICEF and WFP respectively, met every
other week. The agriculture group had its first meeting on 14 November.
Preparatory work is being conducted for the first monthly meeting
between the Government and the relief organisations in the country.
On October 20-22 a workshop organised by UNICEF in collaboration with
Save the Children Fund (SCF) (UK) took place in Geneva. The meeting was
attended by most of the organisations with programmes in DPRK and
emphasized that the coordination among different organisations is one of
the most important aspects for a successful implementation of the
relief/rehabilitation programmes.
The preparations for the next UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal have
started. The sector groups will play an important role in the definition
of priorities and in the coordination of activities amongst the
different relief organisations.
FOOD
The experience of the previous years shows that during the winter
months, there is a trend for the nutritional status of the most
vulnerable, especially children, to become worst, losing the gains
achieved earlier in the year. WFP will increase, from December to March,
the daily rations to nurseries and kindergartens in order to guarantee a
daily average of 1,500 Calories. Currently, the support of WFP to
nurseries and kindergartens correspond to an approximately daily average
of 1,050 Calories.
The US Private Voluntary Organisations' (PVO) Consortium team Amigos
Internacionales, CARE, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), World Vision
International (WVI) and Mercy Corps International (MCI) completed their
initial mission, and departed from the country on November 15. The team
spent three months in the country monitoring the distribution of 55,000
MTs of maize, which was provided under the WFP umbrella, for
distribution under food for work, child feeding (age 7-17) and the
elderly. The team conducted monitoring trips to more than 90 counties in
10 Provinces.
The NGO German Agro Action (GAA) started, by mid October, a school
feeding programme for children between 7 and 12 years old, which has
been funded by the German Ministry for Cooperation. The project benefits
around 25,000 children in three counties in South Hwanghae Province.
>From January to October 1997, WFP has recorded the arrival of 651,000
MTs of food. The food received in the last three months represents 54
percent (351,800 MTs) of that total.
During the month of October, WFP recorded the arrival of 121,198 MTs of
food. In November and December additional tonnage of between 200,000 and
250,000 MTs of food aid is expected.
Table 1 Food Arrivals October 97 (MTs)
Channel Rice Maize Wheat CSB Pulses Vegoil Others
IFRC/KRC 4,850
WFP 12,500 38,014 4,958 1,000 900
PVO Consortium 4,596 471 64
FDRC 1,195 90
Bilateral 2,000 39,000 10,000
TOTAL 20,545 81,610 90 4,958 1,471 964 10,000
Source-WFP
During October, Caritas channeled through WFP 2,500 MTs of rice, 1,000
MTs of beans and 900 MTs of vegoil. The first shipments of EC/DG VIII
arrived during October with a total of 39,000 MTs of maize. Cuba and
India have made donations of sugar and rice totaling 10,000 MTs and
2,000 MTs respectively.
HEALTH
The health coordination group chaired by UNICEF has analyzed the
distribution of high energy milk (HEM) and the confusion that has been
noticed in some institutions concerning other types of milk,
specifically with Dry Skim Milk (DSM). The group has also exchanged
information concerning quantities and distribution areas for children
winter clothes and blankets.
UNICEF, IFRC and Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) have compiled a drug
list and recommended that it be widely circulated to agencies that want
to make drug donations. It was noted that the proliferation of products
with different commercial names and the absence of written instructions
in Korean language could lead to an inappropriate use of some drugs. The
UN Resident Coordination discussed the issue of the unregulated supply
of medicines with donor representatives in Beijing and an agreement in
principle was reached as to the necessity for all medical assistance to
be provided in consultation with the Health Committee led by UNICEF.
MSF now has a team of 8 covering 35 counties in 3 provinces. Training on
utilisation of basic drugs already distributed, is done at provincial
and county levels, including a general distribution of essential drugs
guidelines to all health structures served by this NGO (provincial,
pediatric, county and hospitals, polyclinics and clinics). MSF will
distribute 25,000 blankets and bed sheets to 42 of the county hospitals
where it is working.
Medecins du Monde (MDM) will start very soon a health programme in South
Hamgyong province covering 13 of the 19 counties of the province. The
first lot of drugs and medical equipment (150 MTs) is expected to arrive
during the month. To implement its programme MDM will open an office in
Hamhung with 3 expatriates.
In all counties where MSF is operating there is one Therapeutic Feeding
Centre (TFC) open and functioning. All counties have received sufficient
quantities of HEM until the end of the year. In collaboration with the
Government and funded by EC-ECHO, MSF is making a training video on the
running of a local TFC that will be donated to the Ministry of Public
Health.
In the scope of its activities in S. Hamgyong, MDM will open 10 TFC at
county level with HEM supplied by UNICEF.
Children's Aid Direct (CAD) continue to run a supplementary feeding
programme at nurseries and kindergartens in Sunchon City (S.Pyongan
Province). This NGO has secured EC-ECHO funding for the supply of winter
clothing for more than 350,000 children of nursery and kindergarten age
in S.Pyongan Province.
Concern Worldwide, with a representative in country, signed a contact
with the DPRK Rungra 888 group, worth USD 140,000, for the production up
to 21 December 1997 of winter jackets for children (5-8 years old) and
farmers. Concern will monitor the distribution of the clothes.
FOOD SECURITY AND REHABILITATION
The earth moving equipment and support vehicles (a total of 19 units)
contributed by the Republic of Korea for rehabilitation of secondary
roads will arrive in Nampo Port on 22 November. With the agreement of
the Governments of DPRK and ROK the equipment is to be shipped directly
from the South Korean port of Inchon through the demilitarized zone to
Nampo Port in DPRK. The UNDP offices in Pyongyang and Seoul coordinated
the operation. Two more excavators (USD 200,000 from UNDP) arrived in
October under the ARRP.
A FAO technical exploratory mission was in the country for two weeks to
discuss with the Government the principles and objectives of a Special
Programme for Food Security (SPFS). The main objective of this
programme, already successfully implemented in other countries, is to
help improve national food security through sustainable increases in
food production and productivity as well as reductions in seasonal and
year-to-year variability in production, on an economically and
environmentally sustainable basis. UNDP and FAO are cooperating in this
initiative.
A joint UNDP/UNEP environment Georgraphic Information Systems (GIS) team
has arrived to plan, with different Government institutions and UN
Agencies, environment protection through local initiatives and food for
work programmes (WFP). It will also analyze the need for supporting
tools to design projects and evaluate the impact. FAO will look
specifically at reforestation and agro-forestry components.
This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int
Department of Humanitarian Affairs Pyongyang
Mr. Christian Lemaire
Tel.: (850) 238 17 566 - 571
Satellite: (872) 1507-451
Fax: (850) 2381-7603
E-Mail: fo.prk@undp.org
Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB) - Geneva
Mr. David Bassiouni - Chief
Ms. Sylvia Ferazzi
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1402
Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Rosemary.Addo-Yirenkyi@dha.unicc.org
Complex Emergency Division (CED) New York
Mr. David Chikvaidze
Tel.: (1 212) 963.9665
Fax: (1 212) 963.1388
E-Mail: chikvaidze@un.org
Press to contact (DHA-Geneva)
Ms. Madeleine Moulin-Acevedo
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2856
Fax: (41 22) 917.0023
Telex: 414242 DHA CH
E-Mail: Moulin-Acevedo@dha.unicc.org
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