North Korea Faces Food Shortage and Polio Vaccine Shortage Due to COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] North Korea has reportedly faced a shortage of polio vaccines along with food shortages as it closed its borders to prevent COVID-19.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) stated in the "North Korea Human Rights Situation Report: End of 2020" that "In October (last year), polio vaccines ran out for the first time in North Korea," and "The OPV3 (oral polio vaccine 3) vaccination rate in the third quarter of 2020 was 84.3%, down from 97.3% in the same period the previous year."

UNICEF anticipated that the vaccination rate would decline more sharply as vaccines were not supplied in the fourth quarter of last year and early this year.

The situation for other vaccines and medical services is also dire.

UNICEF pointed out, "Tuberculosis treatment drugs and diagnostic equipment are also facing shortages," and "Already, 90,000 people (including 27,000 children) in North Korea lack access to quality medical services."

This is interpreted as an effect of North Korea closing its borders as part of COVID-19 prevention measures.

UNICEF explained that the transportation of essential supplies was delayed in the first half of last year, and from August, humanitarian aid shipments were completely blocked at the border.

The World Food Programme (WFP) also stated that due to the border closure, the "Interim Country Strategic Plan" for North Korea was extended until the end of 2022, and that support for pregnant and nursing women, orphanage children, hospitals, and schools in North Korea will continue once domestic and international travel permits are lifted.

It added that $2.56 million in aid funds will be needed between February and July this year.

According to RFA, WFP estimates that 10.3 million people in North Korea suffer from malnutrition, accounting for 40% of the total population.

The government is also aware of North Korea's food shortage. On the 18th, Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, stated at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee full meeting, "The scale of food production reduction due to floods and typhoons is estimated at 200,000 to 300,000 tons," and estimated that North Korea's food shortage this year will reach 1.2 to 1.3 million tons.