Challenges of Unsolicited Challenges of Unsolicited Donations During Donations During

Emergencies Emergencies Case from DPRKCase from DPRK

11 March 200811 March 2008

Sawsan RawasSawsan Rawas UNICEF DPRK

OutlineOutline

• SituationSituation• Flood ResponsesFlood Responses• Unsolicited donationsUnsolicited donations• Concerns and difficultiesConcerns and difficulties• Efforts by UNICEF RO, HQ and COEfforts by UNICEF RO, HQ and CO• Follow up by UNICEF COFollow up by UNICEF CO• Results & Lessons learnedResults & Lessons learned

SituationSituation• Heavy rain have caused Heavy rain have caused

severe floods in six provinces severe floods in six provinces

of the DPRK August 2007of the DPRK August 2007• Severe damage to infrastructure Severe damage to infrastructure • Some villages remained Some villages remained

inaccessible due to inaccessible due to

damaged roads and bridgesdamaged roads and bridges• 102,400 homeless people102,400 homeless people• 54,160 homes damaged54,160 homes damaged

Flood ResponsesFlood Responses

Humanitarian Aids/Humanitarian Aids/Unsolicited Donations started Unsolicited Donations started coming in. coming in.

1-South Korean donation of milk 1-South Korean donation of milk powderpowder

• OCHA Sitan 21 AugustOCHA Sitan 21 August• Bilateral assistance through 70 Bilateral assistance through 70

NGOs in South Korea without the NGOs in South Korea without the knowledge of MOPH knowledge of MOPH

2-“Baby food" from Russia2-“Baby food" from Russia• Interagency meetingInteragency meeting• 28.5 MTs of baby food and milk 28.5 MTs of baby food and milk

productsproducts

ConcernsConcerns• Powdered milk will be misused Powdered milk will be misused

for feeding infants < 6 monthsfor feeding infants < 6 months

• This will impact BF negativelyThis will impact BF negatively

• There was a need to advise There was a need to advise ROK government on ROK government on

commodities most needed.commodities most needed.

• Access to communities.Access to communities.

Efforts by UNICEF ROEfforts by UNICEF RO• Picked up the issue from OCHA reportPicked up the issue from OCHA report• Advised CO to raise understanding of ROK on the Advised CO to raise understanding of ROK on the

danger of such donationsdanger of such donations• Pre-arrangements for an appropriate agency to Pre-arrangements for an appropriate agency to

receive the donation & plan how to use itreceive the donation & plan how to use it• Shared the latest guidance on IFEShared the latest guidance on IFE• Requested to mobilize support from Natcom in Requested to mobilize support from Natcom in

SeoulSeoul• Requested support from HQRequested support from HQ

Efforts by UNICEF HQEfforts by UNICEF HQ• Drafted a letter and sent to the mission of Drafted a letter and sent to the mission of

South KoreaSouth Korea• Conducted a face to face meeting with the Conducted a face to face meeting with the

representative of missionrepresentative of mission• UNICEF Russia office was informed about this UNICEF Russia office was informed about this

donation to help in dealing with any local donation to help in dealing with any local issues.issues.

• Approached Russia mission and drafted a Approached Russia mission and drafted a letterletter

• Sent the letter to Russia mission & discussed… Sent the letter to Russia mission & discussed… the issue. the issue.

Efforts by UNICEF COEfforts by UNICEF CO• Approached Russian Embassy in Pyongyang.Approached Russian Embassy in Pyongyang.

• Discussed with the Russian Diplomat who attends the Discussed with the Russian Diplomat who attends the interagency meetinginteragency meeting

• Communicated our serious concerns to DPRK mission in NYCommunicated our serious concerns to DPRK mission in NY

• Letter to Government of DPRK and advised to refuse the Letter to Government of DPRK and advised to refuse the donations of BMS, including powdered milk, or add to fortified donations of BMS, including powdered milk, or add to fortified blended blended

food or complementary food after 6 monthsfood or complementary food after 6 months

Follow up by UNICEF COFollow up by UNICEF CO• Emphasized the role that BF plays in improving the Emphasized the role that BF plays in improving the

health of infants in the Health cluster meetings health of infants in the Health cluster meetings• Mainstreamed the benefits that early and EBF Mainstreamed the benefits that early and EBF

provides to both families and nation in all trainingsprovides to both families and nation in all trainings• 2 million leaflets developed and printed on diarrhoea 2 million leaflets developed and printed on diarrhoea

prevention high-lightening the role of EBFprevention high-lightening the role of EBF• BFHI is revitalized and reassessment of hospitals is BFHI is revitalized and reassessment of hospitals is

underway.underway.• Participation in IFEParticipation in IFE

Results & Lessons Results & Lessons learnedlearned

• Baby food/ Milk powder arrived Baby food/ Milk powder arrived • ROK regretted it ROK regretted it • Difficulties in diverting donationsDifficulties in diverting donations• Hard to manage.Hard to manage.• UNICEF was the only org. handling this issueUNICEF was the only org. handling this issue• Advocacy and awareness raising should be Advocacy and awareness raising should be continuouscontinuous

Thank youThank you