EU humanitarian aid to North Korea

The European Commission has adopted a €6.2 million humanitarian aid plan to support the water and sanitation sector in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Funds, allocated by the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office, ECHO, under the supervision of Commissioner Poul Nielson, will provide urgently needed material to repair rural and urban water supply systems as well as for the sanitation provision. The programme also puts a strong emphasis on the needs of children. The projects will be implemented by international agencies and European NGOs operating in the country and will be supervised by the ECHO support office in Pyongyang.

The water supply networks in towns lack energy, the means to disinfect the water, and spare parts required to maintain the systems. Sanitation provision is poor and people run the risk of catching water-borne diseases. In rural areas protected water sources are rare and many communities rely on surface water. Access for most people to basic health care is severely compromised, particularly in rural areas. Furthermore the health system lacks supplies and equipment and is extremely vulnerable as was observed during the SARS crisis.

UN agencies, Red Cross societies and NGOs will provide materials and technical support to repair and rehabilitate the selected water supply systems and sanitary facilities. The beneficiary communities will carry out the works on the networks, pumps and water reservoirs. The projects will focus on key facilities including schools, health stations and water-quality laboratories. Around 200.000 people will benefit from this programme.

Children are exposed to higher risk of mortality due to insufficient nutrition, unsafe water supply and unsanitary hygiene provision, as well as to poor health care.

Aid agencies will rehabilitate paediatric hospitals, water supply systems for child care facilities and provide basic medical supplies. In particular children aged between 6 months and 6 years will benefit from specially targeted activities. Some 80 tonnes of minerals and vitamins will be distributed to undernourished children.

Since 2000, ECHO has contributed to more than 70 projects amounting to €56,8 million for humanitarian work in DPR Korea.

More information on ECHO activities:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/index_en.htm

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