U.N. says clear evidence of humanitarian need in North Korea

Record ID: 1139425

  • Title: U.N. says clear evidence of humanitarian need in North Korea
  • Date: 12th July 2018
  • Summary: HWANGJU COUNTY, NORTH HWANGHAE PROVINCE, NORTH KOREA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 29, 2011) (REUTERS) ORPHANS SEATED IN CLASSROOM IN HWANGJU ORPHAN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL ORPHANS IN FRONT OF PORTRAIT OF NORTH KOREAN LEADERS KIM IL-SUNG AND KIM JONG-IL YOUNG GIRLS SEATED LOOKING AT CAMERA PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA (FILE - APRIL 12, 2017) (NIGHT SHOTS) (REUTERS) CITY SKYLINE VEHICLES DRIVING AL
  • Embargoed: 26th July 2018 11:13
  • Keywords: North Korea U.N. aid sanctions malnutrition
  • Location: BEIJING, CHINA/PYONGYANG, NORTH HWANGHAE PROVINCE, SOUTH HWANGHAE PROVINCE, NORTH KOREA
  • City: BEIJING, CHINA/PYONGYANG, NORTH HWANGHAE PROVINCE, SOUTH HWANGHAE PROVINCE, NORTH KOREA
  • Country: North Korea
  • Topics: Health/Medicine
  • Reuters ID: LVA0038OFZNEV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: There is very clear evidence of humanitarian need in North Korea, U.N. aid chief Mark Lowcock said on Thursday (July 12) following a visit to the isolated country which was the first of its kind since 2011.
    About 20 percent of children in North Korea suffer from malnutrition, highlighting the need for more funding for humanitarian aid, Lowcock said.
    More than 10 million people, some 40 percent of the population of North Korea, need humanitarian assistance, the United Nations said in a statement.
    Although humanitarian supplies or operations are exempt under U.N. Security Council resolutions, U.N. officials have warned that international sanctions over North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs are exacerbating humanitarian problems by slowing aid deliveries.
    Lowcock said that along with the logistical challenges, the existence of the sanctions was putting potential donors off sending aid to North Korea.
    The United Nations says it had to stop nutrition support for kindergartens in North Korea in November because of a lack of funds, and its "2018 Needs and Priorities Plan" for North Korea is 90 percent underfunded.
    Lowcock said his next task was to look into how to reduce the impact sanctions were having on aid flows to the country.
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