N. Korea’s ‘largely forgotten’ humanitarian crisis highlighted in UN assessment report

UNITED NATIONS: While North Korea has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons — its nuclear tests, the tensions with the US as well as with Japan and South Korea, and the recent assassination at KL International Airport of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un — the outside world may appear to be oblivious to the plight of North Korea’s population.

More than two-third of its population suffers from food insecurity, malnutrition and a general lack of access to basic health and sanitation services, according to the latest report for humanitarian assistance to the tune of US$114 million urgently needed to help the most vulnerable in North Korean society.

North Korea is in the midst of a protracted, entrenched humanitarian situation largely forgotten or overlooked by the rest of the world, writes Tapan Mishra, UN Resident Coordinator for North Korea, in the foreword of the humanitarian assessment needs report for 2017 for the country.

The humanitarian situation is compounded by frequent natural disasters, especially droughts and floods, changing weather patterns, as well as the lack of agricultural inputs, all of which have left more than 5.6 million people, or 20 per cent of the total population, facing food insecurity and undernourishment.

But the UN also acknowledges that the latest updated data is needed so that an accurate evaluation can be made in regard to the food insecurity situation while increasing crop yields is also of great importance to improve people’s living standard.

North Korea’s population also suffers from malnutrition, a problem which needs to be addressed proactively, especially with focus on the first 1,000 days of life.

“Those most at risk from the consequences of a lack of access to healthcare include under-five children, pregnant women, people living with disabilities and the elderly,” stated the report, while highlighting that ‘safe hygiene practices such as hand washing with soap are seriously affected in the absence of running water and hygiene promotion’.

Consequently, the report has suggested that priority should be given to factors such as health interventions in rural areas and improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene.