North Korea: Coronavirus

(asked on 21st April 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of COVID-19 in North Korea, in particular in prisons and prison camps in that country; what representations they are making to the government of North Korea about COVID-19; what humanitarian assistance they are providing to that country; and what assessment they have made of the extent to which international humanitarian assistance is reaching those in need in that country unconditionally.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 5th May 2020

The North Korean government insist that there have been no cases of COVID-19 in the country. North Korea's border lockdown in response to the virus has prevented aid shipments from entering the country since January and restrictions on internal movement, including for UN agencies and NGOs, has severely impacted the distribution of aid and support. We assess that the country's humanitarian need is likely increasing as a result, especially in the countryside and other vulnerable communities. The UN estimates that just over ten million people are in urgent need of food assistance.

The Department for International Development is providing multilateral funds to the UN and other international organisations providing humanitarian assistance in North Korea, including the Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP) in response to COVID-19. As a country of concern in the GHRP, North Korea is receiving funds from this global appeal. We continue to make clear to the North Korean government that international support is available, and urge them to restore international access and monitoring for humanitarian assistance.

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