CHILD NUTRITION SURVEY SHOWS IMPROVEMENTS IN DPRK, BUT UN AGENCIES
CONCERNED ABOUT HOLDING ONTO GAINS
PYONGYANG / GENEVA – Malnutrition rates among children in the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have improved considerably over
the past four years, according to a new survey, but the UN agencies that
announced the findings today said the gains could be lost if international
support for humanitarian assistance to the country continues to slacken.
The assessment – the largest of its kind ever to be undertaken in the DPRK –
covered both child and maternal nutrition and was carried out last October by
the government’s Central Bureau of Statistics and Institute of Child
Nutrition, in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Food Programme.
The two UN agencies said although the new assessment is not strictly comparable
with an earlier survey carried out in 1998, clear positive trends are
discernible:
The proportion of children underweight (weight-for-age) has fallen from 61
percent in 1998 to 21 percent in 2002
Wasting, or acute malnutrition (weight-for-height), has fallen from 16
percent to 9 percent
Stunting, or chronic malnutrition (height-for-age), has dropped from 62
percent to 42 percent.
The Government of DPRK attributed the improvement in part to the substantial
humanitarian assistance provided by the international community in recent
years. The exceptionally high levels of malnutrition recorded in 1998 also
reflected the famine conditions that prevailed in the DPRK in the mid 1990s.
“The results are very encouraging and our assistance is clearly reaching
the people intended with positive effect,” said Kenzo Oshima, Under
Secretary-General of the United Nations for Humanitarian Affairs.
The assessment also provided the first objective analysis of differing
vulnerability across the country. Stunting among children in Nampo City was
25 percent, for example, compared to 48 percent in South Hamgyong Province.
The wasting rate in Pyongyang, the capital, was just under 4 percent,
against 12 percent in South Hamgyong. The survey found similar patterns in
food availability and the incidence of childhood diarrhoea.
UNICEF and WFP said such patterns confirmed their observations from field
monitoring that the northeastern provinces are more vulnerable than other
parts of the country.
Malnourished Mothers
A further important finding was that about one-third of mothers are
malnourished and anaemic. “This is certainly a crucial factor contributing
to child malnutrition,” said Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF.
“Among other things, the survey proves yet again how important a
mother’s health and nutritional status is to that of her children.”
Though child malnutrition has fallen considerably, according to the survey,
the two agencies said there is still “great cause for concern.”
According to World Health Organization criteria, the wasting rates are still
“high”, and the stunting rates are “very high.” Moreover, the recent
slump in external donations for food, medical and other assistance could
compromise the gains.
“The crisis is not over. If the UN can’t provide more medicine and food
– and quickly – we will see malnutrition rates rise again, undoing much
of the progress that has been made,” warned James T. Morris, WFP Executive
Director.
UNICEF and WFP staff working in the DPRK participated in the data collection
teams for the assessment. In addition, experts from the UK’s Centre for
International Child Health and the Bangkok-based Thailand Health Foundation
provided support for survey design, training and verification of statistical
accuracy. The two independent bodies pronounced it a credible and accurate
assessment.
The survey covered children under seven years of age and their mothers, from
6,000 randomly selected households in 10 of the country’s 12 provinces and
municipalities. The youngest child from each household was weighed and
measured, and the mother’s nutritional condition was assessed. In
addition, questions were asked about factors that could influence nutrition,
such as food availability, child feeding and care, and health status.
* * *
For further information, please contact:
UNICEF
Richard Bridle
UNICEF Representative
DPRK: (+8502) 381-7234
Charles Rycroft
UNICEF Media
Beijing: (+8610) 6532-3131
Emily Booker
UNICEF Media
Bangkok: (+622) 356-9406
Wivina Belmonte
UNICEF Media
Geneva: (+4122) 909-5509