UNITED NATIONS, May 12 (UPI) -- The United Nations Children's Fund has appealed for an increase in humanitarian aid in North Korea despite significant social advances in the country.
UNICEF said Friday more than $10 million would be needed to address health, water and sanitation, and education needs of women and children.
North Korea has "achieved remarkable progress in human development in terms of key social indicators -- access to health, water and sanitation, educational achievements, mortality rates," the agency said.
"But there is little hope of achieving the goals in the area of reduction of child mortality and improving maternal health, without major investments in the social sector," it added.
Large-scale aid was halted since the government's decision to discontinue aid programs in late 2005, but cooperation between the government and aid agencies has improved.
The U.N. World Food Program Thursday announced it had reached an accord with the government and would resume aid. The agreement covers a $102 million 2-year deal to support 1.9 million people -- mostly women and children -- and stipulates the agency will be engaged in on-site monitoring.
North Korea suffers from a widespread shortage of essential medicines and basic equipment. Malnutrition in the country stands at 37 percent, with 23 percent of children underweight.
About 20 percent of children under the age of 2 suffer from diarrhea caused by contaminated water and poor hygiene practices. A shortage of fuel for heating during the long sub-freezing winter is also of concern, UNICEF said.
