This report covers the period 1 January 2009 to 15 March 2009.
In brief
This programme update focuses mainly on the health and the disaster management programmes. The disaster management programme has been modified towards a community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) concept, after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Red Cross Society adopted recommendations from a comprehensive DPRK Red Cross disaster management review conducted in November 2008, as well as incorporating additional recommendations from a tree planting management review carried out in June 2008. The tree-planting programme is absorbed as a part of the 2009 communitybased disaster preparedness programme and presented as a holistic community programme activity. The total Country Plan and Budget 2009 has been reduced from CHF 10,099,166 to CHF 9,962,835. Additional financial and in-kind contributions to all programme areas are welcome and much needed.
Programme purpose: The purpose of the International Federation programmes in the DPRK is to support the DPRK Red Cross Society to provide humanitarian services to more than 8 million people in need of health services, safe water and sanitation systems, reduced exposure to national disasters such as floods and landslides by increased disaster management systems and further development of the DPRK Red Cross institutional capacity in the DPRK.
Programme(s) summary: The DPRK Red Cross Society started its 2009 programme activities based on its adopted Statutes which comply with international standards. The Strategic Plan 2012 includes updated policies for disaster management, health and care, volunteers, youth and gender, which inform new programme directions and plans.
Emphasis will be given to further strengthen disaster management, the key national mandate of the DPRK Red Cross, and increase the impact of its community-based disaster preparedness and tree planting at the community level for synergetic benefits during 2009. The same level of activities as in 2008 will be maintained in health, water and sanitation and organizational development with a continued development aspiration of each activity currently being implemented.
The International Federation is also sustaining support to the national society in the health sector, drug distribution and health education to community-based health practitioners in the first quarter of 2009. The priority also in 2009 is to prevent malnutrition through health interventions towards vulnerable groups during an expected extended food shortage. This effort has been possible thanks to critically important and timely support announced early 2009 from particularly the Finnish Red Cross, the Swedish Red Cross and their respective governments as well as the Japanese Red Cross. During the reporting period, the International Federation has also distributed 35 inter-agency emergency health kits (donated by Danish Red Cross) to county hospitals in flood-prone areas as well as stocked ten inter-agency emergency health kits as flood preparedness ahead of the floods season 2009, as agreed in the inter-agency health group.
The International Federation will conduct the fifth round of qualitative reviews of 16 water and sanitation interventions from 18 April to 9 May. During the fourth review in late 2008, 18 out of 20 four-year-old installations reviewed were still fully functional and well maintained. Water and sanitation supplies including transformers, pipes and pumps worth CHF 1.7 million for the current water and sanitation programme of 15 installations in villages will be delivered by mid-April for immediate construction, ahead of the rice planting period starting early May.
The organizational development programme is in the process of launching different activities to celebrate the
150-year memory of Solferino and the 90-year anniversary of the foundation of the International Federation. A midterm review of the two pilot integrated community development project (ICDP) started in 2008 to be conducted before mid-April.
The International Federation has concluded recruitment of a new country representative in this reporting period, seconded by Norwegian Red Cross. In addition, a new water and sanitation delegate seconded by New Zealand Red Cross will arrive in DPRK on 4 April to start her assignment. The International Federation has opened the position of health coordinator to start in the position by mid-June.
Financial situation: The total 2009 budget is CHF 9,962,835 (USD 8.67 million or EUR 6.56 million), revised down from the original budget of CHF 10,099,166 (USD 8.79 million or EUR 6.66 million). The plan is 38 per cent covered to date.
No. of people we help: approximately 8.25 million beneficiaries.
Our partners: Cooperation agreement strategy partners including Australian, British, Canadian, Danish, Finnish, German, Netherlands, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish Red Cross Societies. Other partners include The Japanese Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) and other organizations and international representations in the DPRK.
The International Federation, on behalf of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Red Cross Society, would like to thank all partners and donors for their support.