APD | South Korea largest humanitarian aid provider for North Korea

By APD writer Alice

South Korea has been the largest humanitarian aid provider for North Korea so far this year, accounting for nearly 74 percent of the total international aid donated to the country.

Data released by the United Nations showed that South Korea has provided 5.73 million USD in humanitarian assistance for North Korea so far this year to help the country improve its public health care and restore typhoon-hit villages.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, South Korea has delivered $4 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) and another $1.7 million to the North's Red Cross Society as of January 10.

As such, South Korea was the largest contributor to the total international aid of 7.75 million USD given to North Korea since the beginning of this year. It was followed by Switzerland with 1.35 million USD and Germany with 672,000 USD.

South Korea unveiled the plan last month to provide money to help North Korea repair typhoon-hit facilities in the Pyongan and Hamgyong provinces, and conduct drills to beef up North Koreans' disaster preparedness.

Earlier, the South Korean government also said it will donated 5 million USD to WHO for a humanitarian project to increase North Korean women and children’s access to medical treatment. Of the total, 1 million USD was delivered last month, according to the data.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)