Ban hails UN funding appeal for humanitarian needs in DPRK

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Thursday welcomed a funding appeal by the United Nations Country Team in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on humanitarian needs and priorities in the country this year.

"The appeal identifies urgent, serious and genuine humanitarian requirements for the most vulnerable people in DPRK, particularly children, in the areas of food insecurity, malnutrition, healthcare, sanitation and more," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman.

Earlier on Thursday, deputy UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey told reporters that the United Nations has called for 98 million U.S. dollars in funding to respond to urgent humanitarian priorities in the DPRK.

The funds, designed to finance programs being implemented by five UN agencies in the country, would be used for food and agricultural support, health and nutrition services, and water and sanitation interventions for the remainder of the year, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a news release.

"The lifesaving operations of the United Nations in the country remain drastically underfunded," Ban said in the statement.

"The lives of many people are at stake, including children who are vulnerable to lasting suffering if they do not receive aid," the statement said. "The secretary-general calls on prospective donors to respond to this serious situation. He stresses that humanitarian assistance should not be linked to political or security considerations."

In that regard, the secretary-general appreciates a recent decision of the government of the Republic of Korea to provide humanitarian aid to the DPRK through the UN Children's Fund ( UNICEF), the statement said. "He hopes this move will inspire other traditional and potential donors to follow suit."

Lack of agricultural inputs remains a main challenge for food production in the country, according to UN Resident Coordinator Ghulam Isaczai. During the 2012-13 marketing year, the cereal deficit was about 507,000 metric tonnes, with serious gaps remaining between recommended and actual nutrient intake, due to a lack of dietary diversity.