Commission approves €4.5 million in humanitarian aid for North Korea and Myanmar

FR - DE

The European Commission has adopted two humanitarian aid decisions for crises in Asia: a €3 million plan to support the health sector in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and €1.5 million for vulnerable groups in Myanmar. The aid is being provided through ECHO, the Commission's humanitarian aid department, which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel.

"Humanitarian aid must be provided where it is most needed, and regardless of the political situation in a country. These decisions for North Korea and Myanmar will channel aid through humanitarian agencies direct to the beneficiaries", said Mr Michel.

A large proportion of the North Korean population is dependant on external food aid, as government sources are only providing half of the minimum nutritional intake and food prices are unaffordable for the poorest. Falling donations to humanitarian agencies have already forced them to reduce their distribution of urgently needed food to beneficiaries. Malnutrition is becoming life threatening in many cases. On average, 37% of children are chronically according to the UN, and even higher levels are found in remote provinces. This programme will help supply 9900 tons of wheat and 2800 tons of pulses to 1489 million children and to 298,000 pregnant women and lactating mothers. Since 1996, ECHO has contributed more than €92 million to support humanitarian work in North Korea.

Myanmar

On-going armed resistance and forced village relocations have led to population displacements in Myanmar (estimated at around 525,000). About 160,000 people have sought refuge outside the country, of which 140,000 are living in camps in Thailand and 20,000 in Bangladesh. This latest decision for €1,5 million, the first of several planned for 2005, will address some of the basic humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable populations in Myanmar. The decision focuses on forgotten needs, especially in the border areas, including health, water and sanitation and protection activities. Around 250,000 people will benefit directly from this intervention. ECHO contributed more than €19 million for the victims of this crisis in 2004.

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• EU Commission allocates €15m in humanitarian aid to vulnerable in Burma/Myanmar and Burmese refugees  (22/12/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Human Rights in Myanmar (18/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Re-Introduction Statement - Human Rights in the DPRK (17/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Declaration on sentencing of Shan Leaders (15/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Human Rights in the DPRK (8/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Human Rights in Myanmar (8/11/2005)
• EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner meets with DPRK Deputy Foreign Minister Tae Bok Choe (18/9/2005)
• North Korea: Commission approves more than €10 million in humanitarian aid  (27/6/2005)
• EU humanitarian assistance for victims of the crisis in Burma-Myanmar (29/6/2004)
• EU humanitarian aid to North Korea (3/6/2004)
• EU humanitarian aid of €200,000 for immediate medical support to Ryonchon, North Korea (26/4/2004)