North Korea: Commission approves more than €10 million in humanitarian aid

FR - DE

The European Commission has adopted a €10.715 million humanitarian aid plan to support the health sector in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The aid is being provided through ECHO, the Commission's humanitarian aid department, which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel. It will provide much-needed equipment and medicines, and help rehabilitate health centres, hospitals and special services. Since 1996, ECHO has contributed more than €92 million to support humanitarian work in the region.

Medical supplies will be provided for more than 8 million people in the South Hamgyong, North Pyongan, South Pyongan, Chagang, and Kaesong regions. A project to improve the health of elderly people will continue to be financed. Ante-natal care will be boosted with the rehabilitation of delivery facilities. UNICEF's national vaccination programme targeting 235,000 children under one year of age will also benefit.

North Korea does not produce sufficient pharmaceutical products to meet demand, and those that it does produce are of low quality. Despite international support, estimates suggest that not even half of the basic needs for essential medicines are covered. This decision will therefore help provide basic medical drugs for primary health care. Vulnerable groups such as elderly people and the handicapped will benefit from rehabilitation works in this sector.

A major component of this decision will be on child health, as children are one of the most vulnerable groups in North Korea. A recent nutritional survey carried out by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme, showed that a fifth of children under two had suffered from diarrhoea. The UNICEF/WFP assessment confirmed again that the health of children is strongly linked to the health of their mothers. The decision will therefore address the needs of pregnant women and lactating mothers.

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

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• EU Presidency Re-Introduction Statement - Human Rights in the DPRK (17/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Human Rights in the DPRK (8/11/2005)
• EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner meets with DPRK Deputy Foreign Minister Tae Bok Choe (18/9/2005)
• Commission approves €4.5 million in humanitarian aid for North Korea and Myanmar (9/6/2005)