UN official says N Korea needs food, medicine, clean water

TOKYO: About 20% of North Korean children are stunted because of malnutrition, and half the children in rural areas are drinking unsafe water, a senior UN official visiting the country said.

Much progress has been made compared to 20 years ago but “significant humanitarian challenges” remain, Mark Lowcock, the undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, said on Wednesday at a news conference in Pyongyang. The U.N. issued a transcript of his remarks.

The United Nations is trying to raise $111 million to meet health, water and sanitation and food security needs for about 6 million people in North Korea. Only 10% has been raised so far, Lowrock said, through donations from the Swedish, Swiss and Canadian governments.

The proportion of children affected by stunting and cognitively, has fallen to 20% from 28% in 2011, but that “is still a high number,” he said. “Too much of the water is contaminated, which is a cause of disease and threatens the development of too many children,” he said.

Besides malnutrition and water, Lowrock also highlighted a shortage of drugs and medical supplies and equipment. One hospital he visited this week had only enough drugs for 40 of its 140 tuberculosis patients, creating dilemmas for doctors who have to figure out what to do, he said. ISLAMABAD: As former prime minister Nawaz Sharif prepared to return to Pakistan from the UK on Friday, some 300 of his supporters were rounded up in Lahore and other parts of Punjab province.

Barricades were set up at Lahore airport to prevent supporters of his PML-N party from receiving him. Police said about 300 PML-N workers were detained on Wednesday night “to avoid violence”.

In a news conference in London, Sharif had said he would return to Pakistan regardless of whether he would go to jail or the gallows. The caretaker government has said it will arrest him and his daughter Maryam on arrival.

Local media reported that the government would fly them to Rawalpindi soon after their arrival in Lahore and lodge them at the Adiala Jail.

A helicopter has been placed at Lahore airport for this purpose.

Journalist Talat Husain tweeted that the situation in Lahore is tense after the rounding up of PML-N supporters. There are fears of violence in the city.

Analyst Nusrat Amin told the media that containers have been placed near the airport and