Korea (DPRK) - OCHA: 15.May-15.Jun.98
Korea (DPRK) - OCHA: 15.May-15.Jun.98
Situation Report from the Humanitarian Coordinator in the Democratic
People?s Republic of KOREA (DPRK)
Period covered: 15 May - 15 June 1998
HIGHLIGHTS
The Thematic Roundtable on Agricultural Recovery and Environment
Protection (AREP) took place in Geneva on 28 and 29 May. The conference,
attended by major donors, World Bank, IMF and a number of NGOs succeeded
in establishing a positive dialogue between DPRK and the international
community. It was agreed on the need to help with agricultural recovery
and environment protection, in addition to humanitarian assistance over
the next three years.
An FAO/WFP crop and food supply assessment mission took place from 2 to 13
of June 1998. A final report will be issued by the end of the month.
A WFP one week mission, led by the Assistant Executive Director, arrived
in the country on June 13. Apart from meeting Government officials the
mission will visit different provinces and will analyze the current
Emergency Operation.
The Humanitarian Coordinator, Douglas Casson Coutts will depart DPRK on
reassignment on 20 June. Until a new HC is appointed, Dr. Omawale, Unicef
Special Representative will act as Humanitarian Coordinator a.i.
GENERAL ASSESSMENT
During the reporting period, attention has been concentrated on the
preparations leading up to the Roundtable on Agricultural Recovery and
Environment Protection. Just prior to the Geneva conference, for the first
time, a fact finding mission of EU member states visited the country.
The assessment made by international organisations in-country, as well as
the broad conclusions of the Roundtable meeting, indicate a moderate
improvement in the global humanitarian situation in the country. This is
due to the considerable amounts of medicines and health equipment
delivered during the last 12 months and to the quantities of food donated
by the international community. The even flow of food donations during
the last months have reduced the length of the lean food availability
period and has worked as a safety net for the most vulnerable groups,
especially the children.
However, it is felt that these achievements may only be temporary and that
the overall nutritional situation can worsen during the peak of the lean
season (July, August). There are consistent signs that new and innovative
coping mechanisms have been adopted by the population.
Despite slight improvements in the humanitarian situation, and the
prospect of more active involvement of the international community in
agricultural recovery, the international relief organisations present in
the country have started to experience new and increased restrictions on
the implementation of their programmes with the possibility of more
limited operating conditions on their future activities.
As reported by OCHA on 9th of June, the UN Consolidated Inter-Agency
Appeal has received contributions amounting to USD 82.5 million. This
represents approximately 20 percent of total requirements. The largest of
the components?food aid?has received pledges for only 21 percent of the
total value of the requested assistance (38 percent of the tonnage). The
agricultural recovery and food security components have only received
modest contributions to date.
FOOD
>From January to the end of May 1998, WFP recorded the arrival of 181,164
MTs of food. The expected shipments and confirmed pipeline amount to
around 462,000 MTs. This amount includes the 86,000 MTs of cereals donated
by the European Commission (DG VIII) and 100,000 MTs (rice and maize)
donated by PR of China. Both these donations will be provided on a
bilateral basis.
An FAO/WFP crop and food supply assessment mission visited the country to
update the crop assessment done in November 1997 and to evaluate, at an
early stage, the evolution of the 1998 agricultural situation. A final
report will be issued by the end of June 1998.
Within the framework of its current emergency operations (EMOP 5959) WFP
has signed with the DPRK Government an agreement to start the production
of blended foods in the country for use in primary and middle schools
throughout the country.
Seven members of the US PVO Consortium (Amigos Internacionales, CARE,
Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps and World Vision Relief and
Development) arrived in Pyongyang during the reporting period. Working
under the WFP umbrella, and with FDRC as its counterpart, the PVO
consortium will programme and monitor the distribution of 75,000 MTs of
food to be used in food for work projects. Team members are currently
conducting project assessments with FDRC and county officials in
preparation for the first shipment of cereal, which is scheduled to arrive
shortly. The PVO Consortium team is expected to remain in DPRK through
October 1998.
Non-resident NGOs (Action Churches Together, Caritas, Canadian Food Grain
Bank, ADRA) have, since January, delivered high-value commodities such as
edible oil, high energy milk and sugar, as well as the traditional
donations of wheat, rice, maize and lentils through the WFP?s Food Aid
Liaison Unit (FALU). Those commodities will complement the diet of
vulnerable groups in some areas, including support to ongoing projects
implemented by resident international NGOs. The total amount of food and
agricultural inputs already shipped or pledged by non-resident NGOs
through the FALU channel in 1998 amounts to 29,903 MTs.
The IFRC has continued its food distribution to target beneficiaries in
the provinces of Chagang and N. Pyongan.
HEALTH
WHO is in the process of establishing an early warning system for the
control and prevention of communicable diseases. With technical and
financial assistance from WHO, the Ministry of Public Health has developed
a case definition of 14 relevant diseases and laid down a surveillance
procedure to be adopted against possible outbreaks, based on WHO
guidelines.
During the reporting period, UNICEF has distributed different commodities
(mattresses, quilts, medical kits, multivitamins, bottles of chlorhexidine
and sachets of ORS) to different child institutions and hospitals. Some of
those commodities are donations from NGOs (Lutheran World Federation) and
private institutions (Sanavita).
UNICEF purchased, and has already put into active service, a fleet of four
new trucks. These trucks are being used for the distribution to the county
level of commodities supplied by UNICEF.
UNICEF is supporting the implementation of a growth monitoring and health
promotion pilot project in several nurseries. Also, as part of the Baby
Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), a training manual has been translated
from English to Korean for distribution to the relevant health
institutions.
The IFRC has made a third distribution of drugs to all levels of hospital
facilities in the provinces of Chagang and N. Pyongan. Also motorbikes
(28) and bicycles (850) have been distributed to ri hospitals and clinics
in the same provinces.
CAD (Children?s Aid Direct) is currently developing proposals for the
distribution of soap, clothes, washing detergent and water filter systems
to 4534 nurseries and kindergartens in S. Pyongan Province. CAD is also
proposing a collaborative approach with the MoPH, promoting health
messages to the same institutions.
MSF has centered its activities during the reporting period on training
and following up the current medical programme in the provinces of N.
Hamgyong, Kangwon, N. Hwanghae and S. Pyongan. An increase in diarrhea
cases in Kangwon and West coast provinces has been reported. It has also
been noted that many children suffering from diarrhea are put in feeding
centres, becoming moderately malnourished because of dehydration and
insufficient medical treatment (often antibiotics instead of ORS). MSF has
produced explanatory brochures in Korean, addressing the maintenance of
water filters, the use of chlorine for water disinfection and general
hygiene.
OXFAM is working on water disinfection, water surveillance and standards.
This NGO has imported water testing kits, and chlorine. Training is
ongoing in the use of the kits and water surveillance.
UNICEF has conducted an assessment of the water, sanitation and hygiene
situation in Ryanggang Province. At the same time UNICEF has distributed
to areas and institutions assisted by its water and sanitation programme
different types of commodities (drinking water containers, disinfection
tablets, calcium hypochlorite and kits of DPD chlorine testing)
FOOD SECURITY AND REHABILITATION
The UNDP organised a thematic roundtable on Agricultural Recovery and
Environment Protection which took place on 28 and 29 May in Geneva. It was
considered an ?historic event? as it was the first such international
meeting for DPR Korea and it succeeded in establishing a positive dialogue
between DPRK and the international community on longer-term issues and
cooperation prospects.
Some 25 countries and Organisations agreed on the need to help with
agricultural recovery and environmental protection, in addition to
humanitarian assistance over the next three years.
A broad action plan to re-establish a sustainable production of six
million MTs of cereals by the year 2000 was endorsed by the participants.
The DPRK Government and UNDP are now engaging in follow-up actions and
resource mobilization for the AREP plan. At the specific suggestion of the
European Union, a follow-up meeting will be scheduled for September 1998.
A number of activities have already been identified for immediate
implementation. One of these activities is the preparation of the
expanded double cropping programme in 1999, for which donors have already
expressed support based on earlier achievements and prospects for this
spring crop.
This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - Field Coordination
Unit - Pyongyang
Mr. Douglas Casson Coutts
Tel.: (850 2) 381 7298
Satellite: (872) 1507-451
Fax: (850 2) 381 7639
E-Mail: fo.prk@undp.org
Complex Emergency Response / Consolidated Appeal Process (CER/CAP) - Geneva
Mr. Ernest Chipman - Chief
Mr. Arjun Katoch
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1402
Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Abu.Conteh@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
Information Service
Ms. Therese Gastaut - Director
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2300
Fax: (41 22) 917.0030
E-Mail: tgastaut@unog.ch
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