E.U. to Send Euro6.2 Million (US$7.9 Million) in Humanitarian Aid to North Korea

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The European Union's head office said Wednesday it would send a euro6.2 million (US$7.9 million) humanitarian aid package to North Korea.

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The European Union's head office said Wednesday it would send a euro6.2 million (US$7.9 million) humanitarian aid package to North Korea.


The E.U.'s humanitarian aid office, ECHO, plans to spend the money to help repair and upgrade water and sanitation systems.


The E.U. said U.N. agencies, the Red Cross, and aid organizations would provide materials and technical assistance for the projects.


"The projects will focus on key facilities including schools, health stations, and water quality laboratories," the E.U. said in a statement. "Around 200,000 people will benefit from this program."


The E.U. said the water projects would help prevent children from dying from a lack of food, unsafe water, and general poor hygiene and healthcare.


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Aid will also go toward providing around 80 tons (88.18 US tons) of minerals and vitamins to undernourished children, the E.U. said.


The aid comes in addition to euro200,000 (US$240,000) in emergency medical aid that the E.U. sent to the country in April to help the victims of the devastating train accident.


The E.U. head office has given euro56 million (US$71 million) in humanitarian aid to North Korea since 2000, despite poor political relations between the 25-nation bloc and the regime in Pyongyang.


Source: Associated Press