WCC NEWS: WCC expresses grave concern over COVD-19 outbreak in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed grave concern about a major humanitarian crisis following the emergence of COVID-19 in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Authorities have acknowledged the deaths of at least 27 people and that 1.2 million suspected cases – or almost 5% of the entire population – are being monitored. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC 17 May 2022 “In a context in which the North Korean population is unvaccinated, and without adequate ventilators or other essential supplies, the risk of an unprecedented death toll is very high,” said Sauca. “The COVID-19 outbreak greatly compounds the pre-existing humanitarian situation in North Korea particularly related to food insecurity in the country.” The WCC therefore calls for an urgent humanitarian response by the international community commensurate with the gravity of the crisis, Sauca continued. ”In particular, newly developed antivirals, such as Paxlovid, must be provided as a matter of urgency, as well as diagnostics, ventilators, PPE, vaccines and other medical needs, as well as essential food supplies,” he said. “We call for a centralized and coordinated approach to the international response, through the UN, and for any obstacles presented to this response by the current sanctions against the DPRK to be lifted as a matter of fundamental ethical and humanitarian responsibility.” WCC statement on COVID-19 crisis in the DPRK See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland