United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA OFFICE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA DPR KOREA: SITUATION BULLETIN April May 2005 WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME – PIPELINE SHORTAGES o. N 03/0 5 WFP operations in the DPRK continued to be hampered by funding · WFP PIPELINE SHORTFALLS shortfalls and as a result, 1.2 million pregnant/nursing women and kindergarten and nursery children stopped receiving beans in addition · WHO - AVIAN INFLUENZA to oil in May. The situation remains critical and despite intensified fund-raising efforts, WFP has received only limited pledges since · TRIANGLE’S POLDER October 2004. Without a radical change of circumstances, WFP will REHABILITATION (PHOTOS) be forced to cut cereal rations to 3.6 million elderly people, food-for- · SECTORAL UPDATES ON work participants and their families, primary school children and the HEALTH & NUTRITION, FOOD poorest urban households in mid-June. AID, AGRICULTURE, WATER & SANITATION, EDUCATION & Suspensions and reductions in supplies of WFP food have a serious IFRC PROGRAMMES adverse impact on the well being of beneficiaries. As rural counties have very limited means to make good the difference, child institutions, for example, have to reduce the quantity of food served. Children’s consumption of cereals can fall by as much as 60 per cent, while their consumption of pulses and vegetable oil – key sources of protein and fat – also drops dramatically. Moderately malnourished children can quickly become severely malnourished. This, coupled FURTHER INFORMATION: with rising prices, and an ever-increasing dependence on the market Richard Ragan for food, is leading the vulnerable in the country towards a very Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. precarious situation. WFP is hoping that donors will continue their Pyongyang longstanding support to the Korean people and urgently come forward Tel: +8502-3817-221 Fax: +8502-3817-639 with new donations. E-Mail: [email protected] George Murray The Public Distribution System (PDS) ration remained unchanged at Head of Office 250 grams per person per day composed of a mix of maize and rice. OCHA Pyongyang However, officials in many counties informed WFP staff that the Tel: +8502-3817-490 Fax: +8502-3817-491 ration is likely to be cut again in July, to 200 grams. That would be E-Mail: [email protected] the lowest level since 2001. As part of WFP’s new monitoring system, the first periodic Household Food Security Assessment took place at the end of May/early June. For 10 days, WFP monitoring teams conducted 240 family household interviews, 10 focus group discussions and 70 observational walks within the communities where household interviews were held. The focus group discussions were particularly successful and informative. Many issues otherwise considered as sensitive by the DPRK Government (e.g. the informal economy, household expenditure and the deteriorating food security situation) were discussed. The intention is to conduct three such assessments each year, to reflect the changing food needs in specific periods of the agricultural cycle, and thus prioritise food interventions more accurately. United Nations, Munsudong, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Situation Bulletin April May 2005 Page 2 HEALTH AND NUTRITION WHO - Avian Influenza Outbreak - Update surgeries, antenatal care, newborn problems, In February-March 2005, poultry in DPR Korea was obstetrics and laboratory services, in order to provide hit by the H7 subtype of the influenza A virus. Three access to improved health services. WHO is also poultry farms in the suburban area of the capital city focusing on improving the knowledge and technical of Pyongyang were affected. The outbreak was capability of health workers with the provision of a Korean version of WHO’s technical guidelines on contained by the rapid destruction of 219,000 birds internationally recognized health service practices. and strict surveillance of human contacts with the The Korean version of WHO guidelines for infected poultry. The diagnosis of H7 subtype was managing complications in pregnancy and childbirth, confirmed by FAO. Though no human cases had managing newborn child health complications, and been reported, the national authorities approached basic techniques for health laboratories are already WHO for technical support in strengthening the state widely available at the county level. WHO is of preparedness. Accordingly, Dr Rajesh Bhatia and planning to print and disseminate translated WHO Dr Ayana Yeneabat from WHO Regional Office for reference books on surgical care for district hospitals, South East Asia visited DPR Korea from 16 to 23 which includes all technical and practical aspects of basic surgery, within a few months. The support for April 2005, reviewed the ground situation and after strengthening county hospitals is funded by ECHO, consultations with the national authorities, suggested Japan and Australia. strengthening various areas of disease surveillance and response so that any occurrence in humans can UNICEF – Health and Nutritional Care be detected early and appropriate control measures Programmes – Update instituted. UNICEF - National Child Health Day (CHD) During this period, WHO also supported government The first National Child Health Day (CHD) for 2005 control measures by providing personal protective was held on 20 May. About 2 million children aged equipments (PPEs), rapid diagnostic tests, laboratory between 6 to 59 months, 99% of the total, received Vitamin A supplements. All children between two to reagents and anti-viral drugs. five years were targeted for deworming with Mebendazole. The National Child Health Day is a WHO also assisted in developing a proposal for the joint collaborative effort between the Government of strengthening of disease surveillance and response DPRK and UNICEF. All operational costs for mechanisms in DPR Korea for both influenza and organizing the CHDs are borne by the government, avian influenza. This is being done in cooperation and more than 60,000 health workers and nursery with FAO. The Government of Australia had pledged caregivers are mobilized for the benefit of the AUS$ 250,000 for support for activities related to children. UNICEF provides Vitamin A capsules, avian influenza control. Additional funding is Mebendazole and technical assistance to the Ministry of Public Health through contributions from donors required. This reflects the importance of stepping up such as Canada, Republic of Korea and New preparedness, surveillance and capacity to respond to Zealand. possible new outbreaks of avian influenza. Based on experiences from other Asian countries, recurrence of In DPRK, the CHDs have proven to be a feasible, the disease occurs frequently. Furthermore, increased cost-effective strategy for reaching almost all efforts are needed for the development of a national children in the country with a package of critical preparedness plan in DPRK for an influenza health interventions and are now considered as a pandemic. possible channel for delivery of a broader package of services as well as primary health care information to WHO - Support to County Hospitals care-givers and parents. DPRK has achieved one of In DPRK, for the majority of the population, county the highest coverage of Vitamin A distribution to level hospitals provide the main health service children among countries in the region. facility and first referral centre for the community at the Ri/Dong level. WHO is currently focusing on UNICEF - Production of ORS. strengthening the infrastructure of health service 1,100,000 sachets were produced during January to facilities at the county level with the provision of May 2005. The production was lower than usual essential equipment and supplies/consumables for because of unexpected problems in obtaining spare Situation Bulletin April May 2005 Page 3 parts. To increase production capacity, UNICEF has useful in addressing condom promotion in the DPRK procured a new machine, which is expected to arrive and enhancing the counselling skills of service in June. providers for UNPFA assistance. UNICEF - Delivery of Medicines (Japanese A study visit in Laos and China on population policy, funded). quality of care, informed choice and HIV/AIDs was In May, the Central Medical Warehouse distributed organized by UNFPA for 3 officials from the medicine kits to 448 Ri clinics and hospitals and 39 National Coordination Committee (NCC) in April. provincial and county hospitals in N. Pyongan, S. For the challenges faced in the fight against Hamgyong and N. Hwanghae provinces. The HIV/AIDs, the mission concluded that the distribution for June has started for 1258 Ri clinics government should adopt national policies and and hospitals and 52 provincial and county hospitals regulations on HIV/AIDs prevention. National in S. Pyongan, Kangwon, Ryanggang and S. agencies will conduct publicity campaigns through Hwanghae provinces. the health system and other public organizations such as the Youth League and Womens League. UNICEF - Central Medical Warehouse (CMW). A consultant was in the country from 21 May to 14 ADRA - Update June 2005 as a follow-up visit on strengthening the After postponing the Nutrition and Hygiene project logistic capacity of the Central Medical Warehouse. funded by the German Government due to date Training was conducted for the CMW in Pyongyang changes and different seasonal needs, ADRA is and the two provincial medical warehouses in working on a new proposal. This proposal is