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UNICEF gets US money to help North Korean children

Wednesday, 15 October 1997: UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy, today welcomed a $5 million grant being made to UNICEF by the US Government through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to help children in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The money will be used to provide urgently needed medical assistance as part of the UNICEF health care programme for children and mothers, the most vulnerable victims of the current humanitarian crisis.

"Our thanks go to USAID and USAID Administrator Brian Atwood for this vital and timely contribution to our work. I also thank US Representative Tony Hall, whose personal effort has helped to focus the world's attention on the plight of those affected by famine in North Korea," said Ms. Bellamy.

Hospitals throughout the country lack basic drugs and equipment and the health care structure is in a state of virtual collapse. While food shortages have made the headlines, UNICEF insists that humanitarian assistance must also focus on health care, and on ensuring supplies of clean drinking water and adequate sanitation.

The new funds will be used to provide immunization against measles, cold chain equipment needed to keep vaccines viable, and technical assistance to hospitals and clinics in 100 provinces. The programme will also provide supplementary food for therapeutic feeding within hospitals and nurseries, kindergartens and orphanages.

"Preventable diseases, such as measles and cholera, take a hold in times of crisis and thousands of North Korean children, weakened by lack of food, have already lost their lives because they didn't have basic drugs and health care," said Ms. Bellamy.

UNICEF continues to combine emergency supplementary food aid with support for the training of medical staff and the provision of essential supplies to hospitals and health institutions. Since May 1997, UNICEF has supplied more that 110 tons of high energy milk for severely malnourished children, trained more than 400 medical and other staff in 107 institutions and provided basic equipment, drugs, medical kits and vitamin supplements to hospitals countrywide.

UNICEF recently tripled its international appeal for North Korea to US$14.3 million with a significant proportion of the increased funds to be allocated to improving health care.