Ra’ad al-Hussein cited as one example international banking restrictions, which have slowed UN’s ability to deliver food rations, health kits and other humanitarian aid to citizens
The United Nations human rights commissioner has called on the Security Council to assess the impact of economic sanctions on North Korea to minimize their impact on millions of already struggling North Koreans.
“The humanitarian assistance provided by U. N. agencies and others are literally a lifeline for some 13 million acutely vulnerable individuals,” Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein told council members via a video link from Paris on Monday. “Sanctions may be adversely affecting this essential help.”
He cited as one example international banking restrictions, which have slowed the U. N.’s ability to deliver food rations, health kits and other humanitarian aid to citizens.
Al-Hussein briefed a special session of the council that was focused on the human rights situation in North Korea. Despite objections from China, Russia and Bolivia, the meeting went ahead due to the support of a majority of council members.
Human rights a consistent subject
This is the fourth consecutive year the council has discussed the human rights situation there, a subject usually taken up in other U. N. forums, such as the Geneva-based Human Rights Council or the General Assembly.
“The international security crisis regarding military actions taken by the government of the DPRK is inseparable from concerns about the human rights situation of ordinary people in the country,” the human rights high commissioner said Monday. DPRK is the abbreviation for North Korea’s formal name.
Al-Hussein said it is difficult to get a complete picture of the situation since his staff lacks access to the country, but escapees have provided accounts of the “horrific conditions” in the country’s prisons and labor camps, and of the risk of repatriation if they are caught in China.
