DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (DPRK)
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT
Period covered: 15 January - 15 February 1999 No. 1



HIGHLIGHTS

AREP receives support from British Government, UNDP and CARITAS (Hong
Kong)

WFP field reports note continuing number of malnutrition cases in
hospitals among older children and recent observation of malnourished
children in the 3-5 age group at two centres near Hamhung. These reports
are being followed up.

Valuable contribution of Non-resident NGOs through FALU (Food Aid Liaison
Unit) to the people of the DPRK


URGENTLY NEEDED

The deadline is fast approaching for the provision of seeds for the spring
Double Cropping programme for which FAO/UNDP have appealed in the
Inter-Agency Consolidated Appeal - seeds have to be in country by the end
of February for planting by 12 February. Pledges are urgently awaited.

Whilst WFP is well supplied for the time being with cereals, it is in
urgent need of pledges of other foods to make up the food basket,
principally beans and vegetable oil.


THE NON-RESIDENT NGOS

Special mention should be made of the very valuable contribution of the
non-resident NGOs to the people of the DPRK. Apart from the substantial
value of the resources that they mobilise, there is a lot of
behind-the-scenes organisation and coordination carried out, in respect of
which they receive inadequate recognition. During 1998, the non-resident
NGOs provided through FALU 36,000 MTs of food aid and medical supplies,
valued at over USD11 million.  This is very commendable, particularly as
their visibility, which is important for fund-raising, is not as high as
it would be if they were present in the country.  The NGOs' fund-raising
and awareness-building amongst the general public of the continuing
problems in the DPRK, and the need to continue to help, are important for
all agencies that operate here.

Many of the non-resident NGOs coordinate and channel their contributions
through FALU (Food Aid Liaison Unit).  The coordination service that FALU
provides can make recommendations of where the needs are greatest, and
which items are in shortest supply.  As pledges to WFP have been mainly in
the form of cereals, some of the non-resident NGOs have been able to
provide more of the other important components of a balanced food basket
such as beans.

FALU is committed to ensuring that the beneficiaries are aware of the
sources of the contributions. We have observed that the beneficiaries are
generally aware of the source, even when the aid is unmarked, such as
coal, and express great appreciation for the assistance.

The non-resident NGOs have signed up through FALU to the consensus
statement and humanitarian principles, together with all the resident NGOs
and agencies.


SITUATION UPDATE

The chronic shortage of energy in the DPRK becomes particularly evident
during the winter months.  Those who have coal powered heating are usually
more fortunate than those who rely upon electrical heating. In homes,
there is usually at least one room that is warm from underfloor heating
from the kitchen fire, or from electrical underfloor heating when there is
power, but offices and workplaces are unheated. The provision of coal by
NGOs and IFRC to hospitals has improved the situation in many hospitals,
and the heating is generally directed to the children's wards. Schools are
closed until mid February.

Rice paddies, which would normally be ploughed after the harvest, have
been left unploughed in many areas, because of the shortage of fuel.

Despite the generally frozen conditions, much outdoor activity is taking
place during the months before March, when agricultural work will start
again. The ground is pliable enough for young trees to be transplanted
from nurseries onto hillsides in many areas. Another activity which is
taking place is the collection of organic fertiliser in fields, in
preparation for planting. All manner of vegetative and organic matter,
including fire ashes, are collected in the centres of fields, from where
they will be ploughed in during Spring.

One indicator of the effect of a shortage of food amongst the general
population is that the attendance at work of teachers and hospital staff
is sometimes down by 20 - 25 percent. It is explained that staff often has
to take leave from their jobs in order to arrange for food for their
families. This usually involves travel to rural areas to collect food from
farming relatives.


Food Distribution

According to WFP's findings, food distribution through the Public
Distribution System (PDS) has been variable. The harvest distributed
through the PDS to the general population in January has varied from
province to province and from county to county. However, in most cases
rations of rice have been partial and supplemented by distribution of
processed alternative foods. In some areas, redistribution of the harvest
may be delayed by fuel shortages.


Food for Work

Building upon the experiences of the US PVOs Consortium in implementing
food-for-work programmes last year, WFP is conducting a series of
provincial level workshops, jointly organised with the FDRC. So far, these
have taken place at Chongin, Wonsan and Hamhung on the East Coast, and
Kaesong and Nampho in the West. Provincial and county level
administrators, and technical staff, attended the workshops. Apart from
increasing the level of understanding of aid programmes amongst the local
officials, these workshops are useful confidence-building measures which
are resulting in better information exchange and access. After each
workshop, visits are made to the proposed project sites for assessment and
further follow-up.


AREP Follow up

Following the Thematic Roundtable Meeting on Agricultural Recovery and
Environment Protection (AREP) organised by UNDP in November 1998, UNDP is
preparing an AREP Support Project with the contribution of the United
Kingdom, pledged at the Roundtable Meeting, and UNDP TRAC 1.1.3 resources
for the capacity building and implementation of AREP. With the project,
the UNDP/Government Joint Steering Committee and Technical Support Group
will be established and quarterly meetings will ensure the dialogue
between policy makers and implementing parties is maintained.

As part of the AREP activities and to support the UN Inter-Agency
Consolidated Appeal for 1999, UNDP approved USD 300,000 for urgent
procurement of fertiliser and seeds for the 1999 spring Double Crop
Programme. Seeds and fertiliser are expected to arrive in DPRK by end
February 1999. In response to the AREP proposal for agricultural inputs,
Hong Kong CARITAS has contributed 1,000 MTs of fertiliser through UNDP
which is expected to arrive in DPRK by mid-February 1999.



HEALTH

Nutrition Survey

The heads of three partner agencies (EU, UNICEF and WFP) jointly met with
the Chairman of the National Commission on Children to discuss follow up
activities planned to address the findings of the Nutrition Survey report.
The Government has advised that informal consultations are taking place
and that agencies will be informed of a strategy to address the serious
nutritional problems identified.

IFRC's recent assessment of health institutions in South Pyongan and
Kaesong shows that there is an urgent need for modern drugs. In South
Pyongan no drugs have been received since the departure of MSF. Similarly,
with the departure of CESVI in Kaesong there is a shortage of drugs.
Visits to health facility pharmacies revealed that stocks were almost
exclusively of Koryo traditional medicines. The lack of anti-biotics
during the winter is approaching critical levels as patients with
pneumonia and bronchitis go untreated or must utilise Koryo medicine which
is unsuitable for the treatment of acute health diseases.


Access

In January 1999, WFP had access to all provinces with coverage of 158
counties out of 211, which were monitored from Pyongyang and from the
regional sub-offices in Chongjin, Hamhung, Hyesan, Sinuiju and Wonson.



ANNEX

Agency activities in the Food Security sector:

WFP food aid arrivals continued in January 1999 when unloading of 31,394
MTs wheat was completed on 10 January. Another 56,500 MTs is expected
during February 1999. A total of 297,863 MTs of food including 255,889 MTs
cereals under EMOP 5959 as of 21 January 1999 to nurseries, kindergartens,
hospitals, primary and secondary school children, pregnant and nursing
women and to Food for Work activities. Cereals will continue to be
provided to these beneficiary groups. Whilst food distributions continued
to be received at the beneficiary level, winter holidays in schools and
kindergartens caused shifting the monitoring focus towards the other
beneficiary groups. 72 counties or districts were visited in January 1999.
In addition, to county offices, more than 200 beneficiary institutions,
families or Food for Work sites were monitored. Food for Work workshops
and site assessments took place in Kaesong, Nampo and Chongjin. Primary
schools have not thus far received WFP food assistance.

FALU (Food Aid Liaison Unit) expect 1,000 MTs lentils from CARITAS for
nurseries and kindergartens in the provinces of Kangwon, South and North
Hamgyong, 180 MTs maize from the TAIZE Community of France for pregnant
and nursing mothers in Kaesong municipality. In addition, ACT food for
hospital feeding arrived in Kaesong city and counties. The food basket
rice, lentils and oil is sufficient for all hospitals in this area for six
months. Field reports note some malnutrition cases in hospitals on the
east coast and occasionally in nurseries.

UNICEF provided 12 MTs of vitamins and minerals for the Blended Food
Processing facility in Pyongyang.

SDR (Swiss Disaster Relief) will participate in the spring Double Crop
programme with fertiliser and barley and wheat seeds. In 1999 SDR will
continue its participation in the Food for Work programme of WFP seconding
one expert and providing food for workers of tree nurseries in the
province of North Hwanghae. The emphasis of SDR's activities in 1999 will
be on food production: in Ryangang province in the north, SDR supports a
potato-seed project with 300 MTs of high quality seed potatoes plus
fertiliser, in five seed producing state farms in the areas, SDR is
cooperating in producing hybrid maize.

ACF (Action Contre La Faim) is proceeding with its agricultural recovery
programme in Chongjin, North Hamgyong and for Sunchon City in South
Pyongan funded by DGVIII. The programme involves 400 MTs of potatoes, 375
MTs of winter wheat and 120 MTs of pulses (soya seeds) with fertilisers.
These inputs are targeted for collective farms in South Pyongan province.
In North Hamgyong, 200 MTs of potato seeds and 250,000 sq. meters of
plastic sheeting for cereals and potato nurseries will be provided for 300
greenhouses to feed 2,400 children's institutions which ACF assisted in
1998. Monitoring proved to be a challenge for ACF during 1998, largely due
to the lack of adequate staff who were only able to cover 20 percent of
the 2,400 institutions supported in North Hamgyong.

CAD (Children's Aid Direct) will be funded by DGVIII for the construction
of 400 greenhouses in nine counties in South Pyongan. An agricultural
programme manager to oversee the implementation of the project is expected
to arrive in DPRK in February. In addition, CAD will receive 1,605 MTs of
food aid from DGVIII for distribution to pregnant and nursing women in
South Pyongan. A concept paper for a small-scale Agro-Forestry programme
has been submitted to the British Government for financing under the newly
announced USD 1 m fund for NGOs working in the DPRK.

CESVI has delivered one container (1,600 cartons) of instant dry food for
children from Vietnam to nurseries and kindergartens in Kaesong City, as
well as two containers (3,220 cartons) of instant dry food, vitamins for
children for Wonson City (Kangwon province) for nurseries and
kindergartens.


Agency activities in the Health sector:

UNICEF organised a three-day workshop on USI (universal salt iodisation)
in December 1998 with the assistance of an USI expert. Based on the
consultants report, an inter-agency meeting took place to develop a joint
inter-agency (UNDP, UNICEF and WFP) proposal and action plan.

UNICEF has extended the distribution of essential drugs to three more
provinces (North Hamgyong, Kangwon, and North Hwanghae). During
end-December 1998 and January 1999, 1.951 RI clinic kits and 240 county
hospital kits were distributed to 1,623 health institutions. The total
target population was approximately 11 million. Two manuals on
breastfeeding promotion were printed in Korean (10,000 copies), ARI drugs
and 1,600 ARI timers have arrived and are ready for distribution. In
addition, vaccines and syringes and safety boxes arrived in January.
Measles vaccinations are to go ahead during February. Four trucks under
UNICEF's direct supervision, eased the distribution of emergency supplies
to the provinces.

UNICEF has sent a team of four physicians from the Ministry of Public
Health to a training course on CDD/ARI at the ICDDR in Dhaka from 24
January to 5 February. The participants are to receive training in
management of diarrhoeal patients, diagnosis and management of illnesses
associated with ARI and nutritional rehabilitation of malnourished
children.

UNFPA has provided 12 ambulances to provincial maternity hospitals and
county hospitals in three selected country hospitals.

SDR wound up its projects in 1998 with the production and deployment of
2,000 wood burning stoves, especially designed for fuel efficiency. The
stoves were installed in kindergartens, primary schools and hospitals in
the province of North Hwanghae. An evaluation of this project will follow.

IFRC distributed 7,000 MTs of coal to medical institutions in North
Pyongan and Chagang provinces during December 1998 and early January. It
held a Basic First Aid course for 22 UN drivers in December 1998. In
addition, 10,000 blankets and 25,000 bed sheets were procured locally for
distribution to medical institutions in South Pyongan and Kaesong.

During 1999 IFRC will focus on health and disaster preparedness. It's
operation area is extended and now includes South Pyongan and Kaesong (in
addition to Chagang and North Pyongan). The number of medical institutions
to be supported in 1999 will be 1,692 an increase by 100 percent. The
health programme includes drug distribution, training and winterisation
with projects that cover water and sanitation, health-promotion and CBFA.
Plans are to include distribution of food to inpatients. The construction
of the Disaster Preparedness Training Centre is now near completion. The
main focus during 1999 will be on Management and Training in Disaster
Preparedness (DP). Stockpiling of DP stocks in regional warehouses is also
being initiated. The Federation delegation in DPRK now has an increased
capacity of staff with eight delegates, including four health and one DP
delegate. Two additional delegates (watsan and logistics) will join the
team shortly.

CAD (Children's Aid Direct) received ECHO funding for a Winterisation
programme for warm clothing and shoes for distribution in South Hamgyong.
The monitor for this programme is expected to arrive in early February. A
SIDA funded Water Purification programme for nurseries and kindergatens in
South Pyongan is due to start in mid-March.

Cap Anamur continued its programme of rehabilitating five hospitals in
South Hwanghae province, including the provision of coal and drugs.
Notably, improved heating and drug facilities has led to a marked increase
in the number of patients in the hospitals. Routine training and weekly
follow up visits to monitor the use of therapeutic High Energy Milk for
malnourished children show positive results.

Oxfam has successfully completed the distribution of chlorine, laboratory
hardware, chemicals and reagents with the help of trucks of the Red Cross.
The laboratory materials will establish the capacity of the Water
Surveillance Laboratories across the Oxfam programme area and enable
technicians to carry out water testing on a more consistent basis.
Assistance continued in selected counties to establish the capacity to
produce chlorine from salt. However, problems with the electricity supply
have required the purchase of stabilisers and regulators. Oxfam has
submitted a new proposal to ECHO to continue its programme activities in
1999.


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. David Morton
Tel.: (850 2) 381 7672 or 7298
Fax: (850 2) 381 7639

Complex Emergency Response Branch (CERB) - Geneva
Mr. Ernest Chipman - Chief
Mr. Merete Johansson
Tel.: (41 22) 917.1694
Fax: (41 22) 917.03.68

Emergency Liaison Branch (ELB)-New York
Mr. David McLachlan-Karr
Tel.: (1 212) 963.0226
Fax: (1 212) 963.1314

Information Service
Ms. Therese Gastaut - Director
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2300
Fax: (41 22) 917.0030


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