"We are concerned about the humanitarian situation in North Korea, especially the food situation," The World Food Programmes representative in Pyongyang, Masood Hyder, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa during a visit to Brussels.

"The situation is becoming alarming," Hyder warned. Donors, including the European Union and the United States,

High rates of malnutrition and diarrhoeal diseases among children, a high maternal mortality ratio, a shortage of drugs and deteriorating education in DPR Korea need to be addressed.

UNICEF received only around 50% of the revised CAP requirements (US$ 14,803,000), including the response to the Ryongchon tragedy.

Essential drugs for 12 million people, textbooks and basic school materials for 650,000 girls and boys, as well as immediate support to 2,000 primary school children in Ryongchon are UNICEF's current priorities.

1. ISSUES FOR CHILDREN

Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP)
The CAP is much more than an appeal for money. It is an inclusive and coordinated programme cycle of:

a) strategic planning leading to a Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP);
b) resource mobilisation;
c) coordinated programme implementation;
d) joint monitoring and evaluation;
e) revision, if necessary; and
f) reporting on results.

The CHAP is a strategic plan for humanitarian response in a given country or region and includes the following elements:

The agency added that an additional 3.8 million beneficiaries of the food program are in danger of losing their rations beginning in October, if further donations from the international community do not become available.

As a result of a drop in donations, the agency had to borrow 25,000 tons of cereal in February from North Korea's strategic food reserve in order to continue aid.

An agency official noted this month that

The Federation’s mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power of humanity. It is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation and its millions of volunteers are active in over 181 countries.
In Brief

THIS EMERGENCY APPEAL SEEKS CHF 1.68 MILLION (USD 1.25 MILLION OR EUR 1.06 MILLION) IN CASH, KIND, OR SERVICES TO ASSIST 1,850 FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE DISASTER FOR 12 MONTHS. (CLICK HERE FOR BUDGET)

Reimer and three other delegates were in eastern North Korea to assess needs and gather information to determine