 provided medical supplies worth $1.61 million to North Korea in the first half of 2024.){kind=link}
According to a Radio Free Asia (RFA) report, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) provided medical supplies worth $1.61 million to North Korea in the first half of 2024.
RFA said vaccines for 600,000 children and 250,000 mothers were transported to North Korea via charter flights, citing data from UNICEF’s “Humanitarian Situation Report for the East Asia and Pacific Region,” covering the period from 1 January to 30 June 2024.
In a press release published in July, UNICEF announced that it delivered the vaccines to North Korea on July 15, 16, and 18 and that the North Korean Ministry of Health will begin vaccinations in September.
The report also mentioned that supplies such as vitamin A, medications for deworming, and micronutrient supplements were distributed to children and mothers on May 20, recognized as Child Health Day in North Korea.
UNICEF further stated that it supported 11 projects to improve water supply systems in health centers, kindergartens, and cooperative farms, benefiting 110,000 residents.
The organization also highlighted its ongoing efforts to provide nutritional support for patients suffering from severe and moderate acute malnutrition as the year’s second half approaches.
Despite these efforts, UNICEF staff have not yet returned to Pyongyang. Since North Korea closed its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all UN agency personnel have been withdrawn from the country.