Korea (DPRK) - DHA: 15.Nov-15.Dec.97
Korea (DPRK) - DHA: 15.Nov-15.Dec.97
Situation Report from the DHA Coordinator in the
Democratic People's Republic of KOREA (DPRK)
Period covered: 15 November - 15 December 1997
HIGHLIGHTS
The FAO/WFP crop and food supply assessment mission issued their report on
25 November. The mission estimates that the uncovered food import
requirements for the period November 97/October 98 are around one million
MTs.
Upon the request of the UN country team, DHA agreed to launch the next UN
Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal in January 1998. This appeal will cover
the period January/December 1998. DHA sent a mission to DPRK in beginning
of December to assist with the preparatory work.
IFAD's executive board has approved two new loans, under the Rural
Rehabilitation Investment Programme that was formulated in cooperation
with UNDP and FAO.
The ROK-donated earth moving equipment and other vehicles that were
shipped directly from Inchon (ROK) to Nampo (DPRK) across the DML, have
been received by UNDP and transferred to ARRP work sites.
GENERAL ASSESSMENT
As access to different parts of the country continues to increase, it is
also becoming more evident (and this has been verified by the recent
specialised assessment missions), that the insufficiencies in nutrition,
health, child and mother care, water, sanitation and food security need to
be addressed together. Only a more comprehensive and balanced response can
provide a valid solution to the difficulties faced by the population,
especially children and the elderly as the most vulnerable.
It is acknowledged that the unprecedented levels of food aid have helped
to keep chronic malnutrition from becoming more widespread. However, these
short-term achievements will be lost if drugs, medical and sanitation
equipment, nutritional rehabilitation commodities, seeds, tools,
fertiliser, fuel and training are not delivered in a more consistent and
sustained manner.
It is becoming more evident that the emergency activities must be designed
taking into account medium to long-term objectives and seen as the first
step of a comprehensive recovery strategy that can take advantage of
existing skills and potentials in the country.
Given the better understanding of the current situation and the need to
combine the agricultural year with the appeal process, the UN country team
proposed to launch the 1998 UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal next
January. Preliminary discussions have been conducted, since mid November,
in the sector committees and preparatory activities are now enhanced by
the presence of a DHA mission.
COORDINATION
The sector committees (Food Aid, Health, Food Security) have been meeting
almost every week under the lead agencies not only to coordinate the
current operations but also to discuss the framework of activities for
next year. In that context the main issues to be addressed were analysed,
as well as the interrelation between different programmes and the
complementarity among different organisations, especially when working in
the same region.
The UN country team, through the UN Resident Coordinator, has proposed to
the Government to initiate a monthly meeting with the resident
organisations with emergency programmes. The Government informed that it
may prefer to start the process with a limited number of participants and
a tentative date has been proposed for the first meeting (14 January
1998).
Among the issues raised repeatedly in the sector groups is the need to
explain to all non resident international organisations especially NGO's
the importance of coordinating food, drugs and other aid shipments with
those of other agencies already working locally.
FOOD SECTOR (L.A. WFP)
The final report of FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment mission issued
on 25 November estimates the total 1997 cereal harvest at 2.6 million MTs.
For the period November 1997 to October 1998 the total cereal utilisation
is calculated at 4.6 million MTs. Taking into account the Government
import capacity (700,000 MTs) and the carry over food assistance pledges
(200,000 MTs), the uncovered cereal import requirement is estimated at
about one million MTs for the next 12 months.
A WFP mission has been in the country to assess the existing facilities
for the commencement of a project for the local production of blended
foods. This project will revitalise some of the local factories and will
reduce the costs of blended foods.
>From January to November 1997, WFP has recorded the arrival of 720,386
MTs of food aid. Of this amount, 40 percent is WFP food and 35 percent
assistance provided on bilateral basis. The contribution of IFRC and NGO's
is estimated at 25 percent.
During the month of November, WFP recorded the arrival of 69,004 MTs of
food. During December an additional tonnage of 100,000 MTs of food aid is
expected bringing the total for 1997 to around 820,000 MTs. It must be
noted that an unspecified quantity of food assistance is delivered
directly to the Government by humanitarian organisations and on bilateral
basis and are not included in this amount.
Table 1
Food Arrivals November 97
MTs
Channel Rice Maize Wheat CSB Pulses Vegoil Others
IFRC/KRC 825
WFP 12,834 5 1,460 1,275
FDRC 105
Bilateral 40,000 12,500
TOTAL 40,000 26,159 110 1,460 1,275
Source - WFP
The Food Aid Liaison Unit (FALU), a NGO financed support unit working
under WFP, has processed 47 individual shipments of food totaling 52,967
MTs already arrived. This represents an increase of approximately 40,000
MTs over the total shipped in 1996.
HEALTH SECTOR (L.A. UNICEF)
The international organisations working in the health sector recognise
that in conjunction with the assistance in drugs and medical equipment it
is necessary to include a training component in patient care and drug
management in the health programmes.
To this effect, UNICEF is planning to assist the Medical University in
Pyongyang with training of health professionals and building a library and
resource centre with subscriptions to medical and professional journals.
UNICEF is also assisting the Ministry of Health on prevention of neonatal
tetanus and conducting training seminars on this subject.
MSF has finalised a video on the implementation of a Therapeutic Feeding
Centre (TFC). This video will be donated to the Ministry of Health and
will be distributed to different institutions as training tool.
During the reporting period, UNICEF and the NGO CESVI have received
different drug and medical kits that have started to be distributed to the
hospitals where these organisations are implementing health programmes.
During the visit, in the beginning of December, an assessment mission of
the MSF-Belgium Director General took place in North Hamgyong Province.
MSF will open an office in Chogjin City, staffed with three expatriates,
and will start its medical and nutritional programmes early 1998.
The NGO Children's Aid Direct (CAD), expects to expand its feeding
programme through ECHO funding. The new project aims to integrate
supplementary and therapeutic feeding activities more effectively and
incorporate a health, nutritional, information and training components.
UNICEF, Swiss Disaster Relief, Concern and CAD will start in December the
distribution of winter clothes targeting children and elderly people.
FOOD SECURITY AND REHABILITATION (L.A. UNDP)
The FAO/WFP crop and food supply assessment mission report highlights that
during the 1997 agricultural season improved fertiliser efficiency and
greater use of labor were noticed.
The report stresses, that due to land and climatic constrains, there is a
need for crop diversification to enhance soil productivity in the long run
and reduce risk of crop loss to adverse weather conditions.
For the next spring double cropping season the Government has indicated
that the most suitable varieties of barley are Red Sun 3, Robust and
Stander. The Food Security sector group meetings emphasised the need to
supply barley seeds and fertiliser by beginning of February for the 98
spring season, in order to guarantee a timely distribution.
UNICEF has started the distribution of plastic sheeting for greenhouses in
300 nurseries and kindergartens. CARITAS will supply additional 500 rolls
of plastic sheeting to expand the UNICEF project to other nurseries,
kindergartens and children centres.
The earth moving equipment and support vehicles (a total of 19 units)
contributed by the Republic of Korea for rehabilitation of secondary
agricultural roads were received on 28 November. This equipment will start
to operate in North and South Pyongyang Provinces.
The two IFAD projects under the Rural and Rehabilitation Investment
Programme (RRIP) have been approved. The two loans, worth USD 29.9
million, are for developing livestock and for procurement of agricultural
inputs for 1998 main crop season. The Government has formally requested
UNDP to launch a micro-finance programme under the auspices of the global
MICROSART programme. UNDP is currently seeking donor assistance to
initiate this scheme.
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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