CERF allocates $860,000 to reduce severe malnutrition and improve health services for children in DPRK

A child in a hospital in DPR Korea [Photo: UNICEF]

7 October 2008:  Limitations in the quality and coverage of health service provision in DPRK, including shortages of drugs and medicines, and equipment and training have led to a high number of maternal and child deaths and increased malnutrition.

To help three north eastern provinces cope up with an increased number of severe malnutrition and severe cases of infections in 40,000 pregnant women and 135,000 children, the World Health Organization (WHO) is supplying local health facilities with of essential drugs and medicines.

[Last Update: 3 November 2008]

17 September 2008: DPRK suffers from declining human development indicators and deteriorating physical and social infrastructure. Poor harvests in 2007 threatened the food security of millions in 2008, with malnutrition on the rise.

To address the needs of the most vulnerable and as a result of relative donor disengagement, CERF has allocated $2.5 million through its underfunded emergencies window to the health and agriculture sectors, two often neglected sectors. United Nations Childrens' Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) will use $1.9 million in CERF funding to address child and maternal healthcare and nutrition needs. A grant of $600,000 to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will support barley and vegetable crop production. Some 2.6 million people are expected to benefit.

[Last Update: 3 November 2008]

CERF action in DPRK 2007