Covid North Korea: Sending cargo planes to China as the country battles the epidemic

It is not known what the planes were carrying, but the rare flight came after China pledged assistance North Korea With the outbreak of the Covid disease, which experts have warned could cause a major humanitarian crisis in the isolated and impoverished country.

North Korea officially confirmed The first ever cases of Covid were last week. It had not previously admitted any cases and kept its borders tightly closed since January 2020.

After the first cases were announced, China said it was ready to provide full support “as comrades, neighbors and friends” to North Korea. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said the two countries have “remarkable traditions of mutual assistance”.

According to the World Health Organization, North Korea has not yet established a program of vaccination against the Covid-19 virus, which puts its population at risk. The country’s crumbling healthcare system also lacks the medicines and supplies needed to combat the Covid-19 outbreak.

The situation has alarmed international bodies, with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights warning on Tuesday that the outbreak – and the restrictions imposed – could have a “devastating impact on the human rights situation in the country”.

Human Rights Watch also expressed concern, urging the United Nations and governments around the world to “make every effort to persuade North Korea to allow foreign humanitarian assistance.”

The South Korean government said it has offered North Korea assistance, including medicines, vaccines and other medical supplies, but has yet to receive any response.