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North Koreans with Disabilities Threatened by International Sanctions, Aid
Groups Say

Jason Strother

   SEOUL - North Koreans with disabilities may face disproportionate risk
   due to efforts to curtail the country's weapons of mass destruction
   programs.

   Some humanitarian aid groups providing medical, educational and
   material support to people with physical, sensory and other
   developmental impairments say United Nations sanctions, as well as the
   Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign imposed on Pyongyang
   for its nuclear and ballistic missile tests, are limiting their ability
   to carry-out work in North Korea.

   Amid those restrictions, some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are
   abandoning their programs altogether.

   Multiple sources involved in aid work tell VOA that Humanity &
   Inclusion (HI) is ceasing its North Korea operations. The
   French/Belgian organization, also known as Handicap International, has
   been active in the country since 2001 and works in conjunction with the
   state-run Korean Federation for the Protection of the Disabled,
   according to the non-profit's website.

   HI declined to respond to VOA's request for confirmation.

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