2nd LD Writethru: UN calls for 111 mln USD for humanitarian operations in DPRK

The UN humanitarian wing on Wednesday called for an urgent fund of 111 million U.S. dollars for its humanitarian operations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DRPK) in 2015, such as supporting humanitarian activities in food and agriculture, health and nutrition, water and sanitation.

"The United Nations urgently needs" 111 million U.S. dollars to "fund its humanitarian operations" in the DRPK in 2015, said a press release issued here by the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the DPRK. "The fund will support humanitarian activities in food and agriculture, health and nutrition, water and sanitation."

"The UN recently updated its plans to address these critical humanitarian needs which remain drastically underfunded," it said.

"DPR Korea is both a silent and underfunded humanitarian situation," said the UN resident coordinator, Ghulam Isaczai. " Protracted and serious needs for millions of people are persistent and require sustained funding."

Among a population of 24.6 million people, approximately 70 percent (18 million people) are considered food insecure, and are not able to access an adequate and diverse nutritious diet to live healthily, the UN Office noted. "Malnutrition rates continue to be a public health concern, with the chronic malnutrition (stunting) rate among children under five at 27.9 percent; 4 percent of them are acutely malnourished (wasting), according to the 2012 National Nutrition Survey."

"Under-nutrition is a fundamental cause of maternal and child death and disease," the press release said. "Health service delivery is inadequate, and many areas of the country are not equipped with sufficient facilities, equipment or medicines."

"Safe drinking water and inadequate sanitation services are a fundamental problem, contributing to high and chronic instances of diarrhoea, respiratory infections and waterborne diseases," the press release said. "Food production is hampered by a lack of agricultural resources, such as seeds and fertilizers, and is highly vulnerable to shocks, particularly natural disasters like floods."

Funding these humanitarian priorities will enable the five UN agencies already working on the ground to continue programmes that provide many vulnerable people with the basics, the press release said, referring to such UN bodies as the World Food Programme (WFP) , UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO).

"It is vital that donors respond quickly and generously to allow aid agencies to address the humanitarian situation," Isaczai said. "Humanitarian needs must be kept separate from political issues to be able to ensure minimum living conditions for the most vulnerable, especially women, children and the elderly."

"The commitment and support of the international community is vital," the press release said. "The UN needs to continue to build on positive developments, otherwise the progress made in the past decade to improve food security, health and nutrition will not be sustained."

The United Nations will continue to work toward addressing the structural causes of vulnerabilities and chronic malnutrition through development interventions agreed with the DPRK government, it added. Endite