PRESS BRIEFING BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
Press Briefing
PRESS BRIEFING BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
19970407
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Yasushi Akashi, launched an expanded humanitarian appeal at Headquarters today for food aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea covering the period from April 1997 to March 1998.
Before addressing the main subject of the briefing, Mr. Akashi noted the improvement in the situation of repatriating refugees in eastern Zaire. The improvement followed strong appeals last Friday by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee; the European Union Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Emma Bonino; the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata; and others. In addition, a press statement and a Security Council presidential statement followed Mr. Akashi's Council briefing on the situation. He was heartened that the parties in that internal conflict were heeding the appeals. It was one situation in which the response of the Council and the humanitarian community had a positive impact on the situation on the ground.
Turning to the subject of his briefing today, Mr. Akashi said he was joined by the colleagues of other United Nations agencies that were participating in the United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea: the World Food Programme (WFP); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF); the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); and the World Health Organization (WHO). The appeal being launched today continued and expanded the activities undertaken in the framework of those agencies' previous appeals. The Democratic People's Republic had requested the Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) last year to prepare a humanitarian appeal. That appeal -- for $43.6 million covering the period July 1996 to March 1997 -- was launched from the same rostrum at Headquarters on 6 June last year.
Mr. Akashi reported that, overall, 80 per cent of the appeal was attained, with 99 per cent of the target achieved in the food sector. Summaries of those results could be found in Annex I of the appeal. Yet, in view of the "severe food shortage and magnitude and long-term nature of the devastation" stemming from two consecutive floods in the country, the Government of the Democratic People's Republic asked the United Nations to continue its appeal process. Last month, DHA sent a small team to that country. There, in conjunction with colleagues from United Nations agencies and Government officials from, the latest appeal was drafted. The mission was not an assessment, although its members visited two of the affected areas in the north. The DHA was now appealing for a total of $126,226,177 in emergency aid from 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998.
Mr. Akashi said the appeal was divided into three major portions: food aid -- "the most urgent need" -- was being requested in the amount of $95.4 million (precise figures were contained in the document); $20 million plus was being requested to strengthen food security in the medium and long term in order to enable that country to resume normal food production; and $9 million to restore basic health services disrupted by the floods. An additional $750,000 was being sought to ensure adequate coordination, monitoring and reporting. Monitoring activities by the WFP in the last year were described in Annex II of the appeal.
The Under-Secretary-General said the appeal focused on the provinces most seriously affected by the floods, namely Chagang, North and South Hwanghae, North and South Pyongan and Kangwon. However, in view of the wide- ranging and lasting effects of the floods, it would have a wider scope in addressing the deteriorating situation of larger segments of the population of the Democratic People's Republic. With the current grain shortage estimated to be 2.36 million metric tons, the WFP was appealing for considerably larger quantities of food aid than previously requested. The Executive Director of the WFP, Catherine Bertini, visited the Democratic People's Republic a few weeks ago, and upon her return, doubled the amount contained in the present appeal.
Mr. Akashi said that in the area of food security, the FAO, UNDP and UNICEF were attempting to address: the question of the rehabilitation of arable land and irrigation systems; the strengthening of rice, cereal and vegetable production; the increase of grain production through double cropping; and food security in nurseries and kindergartens. The UNICEF and the WHO were addressing the third segment of the appeal, namely the deteriorating health situation, especially of children and pregnant women. Their activities would include: assisting the restoration of essential health services; strengthening the surveillance system and control of epidemics; and nutritional rehabilitation and therapeutic food assistance. Given the urgency of the humanitarian needs of the victims of the disaster, Mr. Akashi said, "I would like to call upon the entire international community to give this appeal immediate attention and generous support, on as wide a geographical basis as possible".
A correspondent asked whether there had been any cut-off date for the flow of food. Mr. Akashi said that as far as food aid was concerned, nearly 100 per cent of the target had been reached. To a follow-up question regarding the status of contributions by China, in light of reports that that country had only contributed on a commercial basis, Mr. Akashi said that he had not completely kept track of bilateral assistance. He was aware, however, that China had provided a considerable amount of food assistance on a bilateral basis, for which he did not know the terms and conditions.
To another question about whether the DHA was satisfied with the results of the appeal, Mr. Akashi said he was satisfied that nearly 80 per cent of the
Akashi Briefing - 3 - 7 April 1997
target was reached, but added that the appeal covered the minimum assistance needed for the critical situation. Much more needed to be done. In a sense, there was a "double-punch" with the floods of 1995 followed by more floods in 1996. Although different areas had been affected, the second floods arrived before land restoration in the first area had been completed. In view of the evolving deterioration from natural disasters, coupled with some of the structural problems faced by that country, "the situation calls for much more assistance from abroad in order to enable that country to weather this very serious transition", he said.
Asked how many countries were offering assistance, and when the first shipment of food was expected under the new appeal, Mr. Akashi referred the question to his colleague in the DHA, David Chikvaidze. Mr. Chikvaidze said that the pledges would be coming in beginning today. Up to now, the only pledges against the current appeal dated back to the initial request for emergency food issued in February by the WFP. Mr. Chikvaidze referred the question of the first food shipments to Douglas Coutts, head of the North American Office of the WFP, who said that nearly $17 million had been received towards the appeal, based on the 100,000 tons of food requested in February. The key donors to that appeal were the United States, the Republic of South Korea and Australia. The first shipment was expected in early May. In the meantime, "the pipeline was extremely thin", with very little food available.
Mr. Akashi reminded reporters that with the harvest expected in October, the worst period would fall between July and September. The situation could be described as "a humanitarian disaster in the making". Noting that the 10- point United Nations reform programme announced in recent weeks contained some aspects helpful to the appeal, another reporter asked if Mr. Akashi could comment on the report of the Secretary-General due out in July on long-term support for such appeals. Mr. Akashi said that he certainly hoped that current and future reform measures would add to the efficiency and rapidity with which the Organization could respond to disasters. The situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, however, should call for "immediate response, with or without reorganization, which may take place in the humanitarian community".
Asked if there were any plans to build dams or prevent future floods, Mr. Akashi said that while the critical nature of the situation required food assistance, food aid alone was not enough to strengthen that country's ability to cope with future disasters. The appeal may seem to be for a very large amount, but compared to the needs in that country, it was "infinitesimal". Ms. Bertini had initially thought that 100,000 metric tons of food assistance might be adequate, but after visiting the country, she increased the request to more than 200,000 metric tons. Compared to the estimated need of 2.36 million tons, and assuming that the WFP could take care of 200,000 tons and bilateral barter trade and credit could produce 1 million tons, more than 1 million tons were still needed.
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