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Children's lives at serious risk if DPRK drought continues: UNICEF

Xinhua, July 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Wednesday warned that children in some parts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) may be at serious risk of malnutrition and disease if drought continues there.

Rainfall figures and information from humanitarian agencies and the government indicated that parts of the DPRK are already facing serious drought. North Hwanghae, South Hamgyong and South Hwanghae are most affected provinces by the decline in rainfall.

UNICEF officials have recently met with local health officials in affected provinces who confirm reports of significant increases in diarrhea among children, as the absence of rain threatens access to safe water and sanitation.

"Lack of rain reduces access to clean water and undermines effective hygiene, putting children's lives at risk," said UNICEF Regional Director Daniel Toole. "The UNICEF has already received reports that the incidence of diarrhea, globally a leading cause of death among young children -- has increased seriously in the first six months of 2015 in the drought-affected provinces."

The UNICEF has released prepositioned emergency supplies to help those in the worst-affected provinces, including water purification tablets, water storage containers and health supplies for children with severe acute malnutrition. Training on how to treat children with severe acute malnutrition has also been stepped up.

The UN agency will take time to ensure life-saving water. Hygiene, medical supplies, and the expertise to use them, are available at the levels required should the drought continue.

The drought-affected provinces are key sources of DPRK staple food crops. The UNICEF warned if the main harvest fails in those provinces food may become scarce across the country, which could dramatically increase the numbers of children at serious risk.

"The situation is urgent. But if we act now, by providing urgently needed expertise and propositioning supplies, we can save lives," Toole said. Endi