WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3168/98 by Luciano VECCHI to the Commission. ECHO humanitarian operations in North Korea
Date: 1998-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, VECCHI
Subjects: EU aid, EU programme, European Commission, North Korea, aid system, economic recession, humanitarian aid, international aid, non-governmental organisation













EUR-Lex - 91998E3168 - EN






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91998E3168

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3168/98 by Luciano VECCHI to the Commission. ECHO humanitarian operations in North Korea  


Official Journal C 297 , 15/10/1999 P. 0052 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3168/98by Luciano Vecchi (PSE) to the Commission(27 October 1998)Subject: ECHO humanitarian operations in North KoreaOver the past few months ECHO has supported a series of projects submitted and implemented by European humanitarian aid NGOs in North Korea.These operations have undoubtedly had a positive impact on the serious humanitarian crisis affecting the country in a whole range of areas (food, social conditions, health, etc.).At the same time problems have apparently arisen with regard to relations with the North Korean authorities.Can the Commission answer the following:1. Does it intend to continue providing support for NGO humanitarian operations, as is to be hoped given the ongoing disastrous problems facing North Korea?2. What criteria will be used and what financial resources will be made available for this purpose?Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf on the Commission(23 November 1998)Based on what Commission staff and partner non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have observed in the field, North Korea is facing an economic and structural crisis (which has resulted in shortages in food, medicine and medical equipment) rather than a classic famine situation (such as may be encountered in some African countries). Many observers have the impression that, over the last months, the general situation seems to have improved, mainly due to the massive inflow of international assistance.For humanitarian agencies in the health and medical sectors, working conditions in North Korea have always been subject to important restrictions (access to information, access to beneficiaries, monitoring conditions). In recent months, North Korean authorities have even tightened up working conditions in this sector and apparently local authorities intend to take back full responsability for public health sectors over the coming months. Several NGO partners have already left the country, because their memoranda of understanding were not renewed by the North Koreans (currently only three partners active in the health and medical sectors remain in the country).Last year the Commission allocated around ECU 20 million to North Korea in the health and medical sector, as compared to ECU 2,5 million this year. The Commission is still financing two humanitarian projects in North Korea. However, in order for humanitarian action in this sector to be meaningful and effective and therefore in line with the Commission's mandate, certain conditions must be met (freedom of access to beneficiaries and freedom to monitor the projects by NGOs). Before deciding on any future interventions in the health and medical sectors, the Commission will therefore have to pay close attention to developments in this regard.