ECHO Factsheet – North Korea (DPRK) – January 2015 Humanitarian Aid and
Civil Protection
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Facts & Figures EU humanitarian aid since 1995:
€ 135 million to over 130 projects, including:
€ 132 520 in response to floods in July-August 2013
€ 72 000 for disaster
preparedness for 2014-2015
Even in years of a good harvest, much is lost due to poor storage. © EU/ECHO
Key messages
The European Commission has been responding to humanitarian needs in North Korea – Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 1995, with over € 135 million in total.
Chronic undernutrition remains a public health concern, which might create emergency humanitarian needs at any given moment.
Experts from the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) regularly assess the situation in North Korea so that the most urgent humanitarian needs are met effectively and efficiently.
Humanitarian situation and needs Background
The latest UN Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) report of November 2013 stated that food production had slightly improved, reducing the food gap to its lowest in many years (340 000 tons of cereals, out of which 300 000 are expected to be imported).
However, despite improved harvests, the food security situation remains a concern due to an inadequate diet, notably with regards to lack of protein and oils. The public distribution system faces serious logistic challenges. Therefore, households usually rely on their own production, state shops, formal markets and commodity exchanges.
North Korea (DPRK)
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Major challenges
As a consequence of the international sanctions adopted against North Korea in early 2013, international bank transfers into the country are more difficult to carry out, which may affect the functioning of humanitarian agencies. In response to the Ebola crisis in Western Africa, strict travel restrictions have also been imposed recently: all foreigners entering the country have to undergo an obligatory quarantine of 21 days, even if they have never been to Ebola-affected countries.
The food and nutrition situation remains fragile and subject to deterioration in case of shocks. The overall chronic undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are worrying. Even if child undernutrition has steadily declined over the past decade, additional efforts are required to improve children's condition.
Stunting (low height compared to age) prevalence was reported at 28%, which is considered a “medium”
public health concern by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Furthermore, extreme weather conditions have posed challenges in recent years. Torrential rains in July and August 2013 caused floods and affected areas of North and South Pyongan, North and South Hwanghae and South Hamyong provinces. The government reported 33 dead, 4 000 people without shelter and some 50 000 displaced. Over 13 000 hectares of croplands were washed away, buried or submerged. Floods also occurred there in 2012, leaving 115 dead, displacing around 85 000 and damaging over 47 000 hectares of farmland.
The European Union's humanitarian response
In total, the European Commission has committed over € 135 million in humanitarian aid to some 130 projects since 1995, with a special focus on food assistance*, the improvement of health services and access to clean water and sanitation* for the most vulnerable populations.
After the floods of 2013, the European Commission released € 132 520 to be used by the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) to help with the distribution of household items, the provision of safe water and the promotion of hygiene for some 5 000 affected and displaced families.
Similar assistance had been provided through the IFRC following the floods in 2012, when the European Commission contributed € 200 000.
Through the Disaster Preparedness Programme (DIPECHO)*, ECHO is supporting a multi-country initiative, which includes North Korea, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
This action aims at increasing capacities for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in agriculture. The project includes information sharing, the use of
good farming
practices and awareness raising on core technical and institutional requirements.
Estimated funding allocated to this initiative in North Korea amounts to some € 72 000. The project is being implemented from July 2014 to December 2015.
