north korea humanitarian aid

UN seeks $198 million for humanitarian needs in DPR Korea in 2012

Farmers harvest their crops in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Photo: FAO/Belay Derza Gaga

12 June 2012 –

Amid funding concerns for ongoing activities, the United Nations seeks $198 million to address critical humanitarian needs in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in 2012. “Sixteen million people continue to suffer from chronic food insecurity, high malnutrition rates, and deep-rooted economic problems,” the UN Resident Coordinator in the DPRK, Jerome Sauvage, said in a news release. “Inadequate medical supplies and equipment make the health care system unable to meet basic needs, while the water and heating systems need to be rehabilitated.”
The Overview Funding Document (OFD), which outlines the funding needs for the UN’s humanitarian activities in DPRK, was presented to the international donor community in Beijing today, and in Pyongyang on 7 June. It also describes the current situation and the efforts being made to improve it in food and nutritional assistance, agricultural support and interventions in the water, sanitation, hygiene and health sectors.
According to the Resident Coordinators’ office, around two million people in the country’s most food insecure areas are currently receiving nutritious food assistance.
About 10,300 children will be treated for severe acute malnutrition and 57,000 for moderate acute malnutrition. The cereal deficit for the 2011/12 marketing year was estimated at 739,000 metric tons, leading to an uncovered cereal deficit of 414,000 metric tons.
The UN’s humanitarian focus in DPRK is on mitigating the protracted crisis through a sustained humanitarian response that addresses immediate and intermediate needs, while also addressing some of the root causes of the vulnerabilities in order to build resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
“External assistance is still needed and continues to play a vital role in safeguarding and promoting the well-being of millions whose food security, nutritional status and general health would otherwise be seriously compromised,” said Mr. Sauvage.
In 2011, the UN called for $218 million to address humanitarian needs in DPRK – it received some $85 million from donors, led by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Due to the lack of funds, humanitarian agencies have been unable to effectively address humanitarian needs.
“The UN in DPRK remains seriously underfunded. Provision of assistance must be based on the humanitarian principles: humanity, neutrality and impartiality, and not be contingent on political developments,” said Mr. Sauvage. “Separating humanitarian needs from political issues is a prerequisite for a sustainable improvement in the condition of people.”
Financed by voluntary contributions from Member States, non-governmental organizations, local governments, the private sector and individual donors, the CERF is a humanitarian fund established by the United Nations to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts, helping agencies to pre-position funding for humanitarian action.

north korea satellite launch

Turkey urges North Korea to avoid steps undermining six-party talks

 

13 April 2012 / TODAYSZAMAN.COM,

Turkey deplored North Korea's rocket launch on Friday, saying it could complicate efforts to revive six-party talks over the nuclear program of the reclusive Asian nation.

North Korea's attempt to launch a satellite ended in failure on Friday when the rocket disintegrated over the Yellow Sea. Western nations have said the launch was a cover for the testing of a long-range missile, and worries remain about North Korea's nuclear program amid reports that it may be planning another atomic test soon.
The six-party talks with Pyongyang last held three years ago. The Security Council imposed sanctions against North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006 and stepped up sanctions after its second test in 2009.
North Korea had held up the launch as a scientific achievement and even a gift for its late founder, Kim Il Sung, two days before the 100th anniversary of his birth. It pressed ahead even as world leaders vowed to take action in the UN Security Council against what they called a flagrant violation of international resolutions prohibiting North Korea from developing its nuclear and missile programs.
The UN's most powerful body said in a brief press statement after a closed meeting on Friday that members agreed to continue consultations "on an appropriate response."
Turkey said in a statement on Friday that it is closely following North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile activities and that Turkey is actively supporting international efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction and their launchers.
North Korea, which three years ago pulled out of six-party disarmament talks on its nuclear program, agreed in February to stop nuclear tests, uranium enrichment and long-range missile launches in return for food aid, opening the way to a possible resumption of the negotiations. Turkey said it welcomed North Korea’s decision to suspend uranium enrichment as a way to revive six-party talks.
Turkey said it is concerned over the latest rocket launch by North Korea and considers it as a step that cast shadow over the positive actions the Asian nation has taken this year.

turkey and north korea

North Koreans eye aid in rare trip to Ankara

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News | 9/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | ÜMİT ENGİNSOY

With North Korea suffering from a famine, a Foreign Ministry delegation from that country has asked Ankara for humanitarian aid during a secret visit. Turkish organizations, however, are refraining from providing North Korea ‘multiple-use food,’ i.e. anything that could be used by the North Korean military

A senior North Korean delegation visited Ankara secretly earlier this month mainly to seek humanitarian relief aid on an extremely rare visit marking the second such contact in 10 years, a source familiar with the event said Friday.
The three-man North Korean delegation came on Sept. 7 and 8, the source said, adding that the visit was requested by the North Korean Foreign Ministry and the delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Kung Seok-Woong.
The team met with Turkish Foreign Ministry officials and a Turkish non-governmental organization specialized in foreign aid, one diplomatic source said. In addition to asking for aid, the team gave information about North Korea’s policy on nuclear weapons.
North Korea presently is suffering from a strong famine affecting the nation, and the Turkish non-governmental organization agreed to send baby food to North Korea. Along with several other Western nations, Turkey refuses to send general-purpose food, like rice, fearing that the military will take it in accordance with the country’s “military first” campaign.
The North Korean officials left Turkey one day earlier than planned, the source said. The North Korean team arrived in Turkey after similar talks in several European countries, many of them in Eastern Europe. This was believed to be the second contact between Turkish and North Korean officials in as many as 10 years.
Turkey fought against North Korea in the 1950-1953 Korean War alongside United Nations forces supporting South Korea. Over 1,000 Turkish troops were killed, a more than one-in-seven casualty rate, the highest of the U.N. forces. Both Turkey and Greece, who had the second highest casualty rate in the war, were admitted as NATO members in the early 1950s for their staunch fighting on behalf of the United Nations.
Despite being one of the world’s most isolated countries, North Korea has a strong nuclear weapons program, supported by ballistic missiles. Turkish Foreign Ministry officials said the talks in early September did not represent in any way a softening in Turkey’s position toward North Korea’s nuclear approach. North Korea also is accused by the United States of trying to export its nuclear capabilities.