- Even a minor decrease in international aid to North Korea may have a critical impact on an already vulnerable population, says Head of International Department of The Norwegian Red Cross, Halvor Fossum Lauritzsen.
The humanitarian situation in the country has been very difficult for the last decade due to drought and floods.
- The North Korean population has been hit by drought and flood almost every year since 1995, and is extremely vulnerable. More than 3 million people have died due the poor food-security the last decade, says Lauritzsen.
The Norwegian Red Cross is running bilateral programs with the North Korea Red Cross in relief and disaster preparedness, and also supports The international Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies' (IFRC) programs.
The IFRC is active in 64 cities and counties in five provinces in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, covering a population of around 8.7 million. In recent years, the IFRC has been focusing on the distribution of medical supplies and essential drugs to hospitals and clinics, health promotion and community-based first aid. The IFRC is also working to improve household access to safe water supplies and sanitation facilities.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
