The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) welcomes the South Korean government’s July 29th approval of shipments of humanitarian aid to North Korea by five private humanitarian aid groups, and the support projects for North Korean infants through the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
The NHRCK was making policy recommendations to urge the government for humanitarian aid to children in North Korea when the government recently announced its permission of humanitarian aid by private actors to starved children in North Korea. The Commission believes that such support for children in the impoverished country is urgent in order to protect and promote the right to health of them as childhood malnutrition has long-lasting effects.
The data collected by the NHRCK indicates that North Korean citizens, infants and children in particular, are struggled with a dire shortage of nutritional, health and food supplies. The 2013 United Nations Development Program’s survey found that North Korea’s infant mortality rate is over six times higher than that of the South. The North Korea’s mortality rate among infants under the age of 1 is 25.2 deaths per 1,000 lives and, the figure among children under the age of five stands at 33 deaths per 1,000 lives.
According to the survey conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics of North Korea with the assistance of the UNICEF, the World Food Program, and the World Health Organization in 2012, 32.4 percent of children under the age of five are chronically malnourished, and 5.2 percent of children are suffering from acute malnutrition.
In the meantime, the FAO announced the results of its crop and food security assessment in North Korea on July 11th this year, which showed that 2.8 million North Korean citizens need food assistance by no later than October. The report also points out that North Korea has secured a total of 72,600 tons of food in the first half of this year by having imported 459,100 tons of food and having received 26,6400 tons from the international community, but it still needs more.
The NHRCK wants the government to expand its support to help not just children in North Korea but other vulnerable groups including pregnant women, the elderly etc. Also, the commission expects it to consider providing humanitarian aid to all North Korean citizens.
The NHRCK is well aware that private aid organizations in South Korea are putting tireless efforts to support North Korea despite strained inter-Korean relations. In this regard, the commission would like to express its admiration and gratitude for such commitment and efforts of them.
The commission will continue its close work with related organizations so that the government’s decision could turn into a reality.
July 30. 2013
Hyun Byung Chul
National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK)
