New Zealand is providing 540,000 NZ dollars (about 340,200 US dollars) to the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, for its program in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Foreign Minister Phil Goff said Tuesday.

The grant follows the 242,550 US dollars contribution earlier this year for the World Food Program's operations in the DPRK.

Both pledges were made prior to the recent train explosion that killed over 160 people and injured 1300.

UNICEF provides humanitarian assistance in such areas as health and basic education to the most vulnerable groups in the DPRK. It is appealing for around 12.8 million US dollars for its 2004 program, but has received less than half of this.

"International organizations such as UNICEF and other donor agencies help to meet some of the most critical health, food and other basic needs of the population. Without the involvement of the international community the people of North Korea would suffereven more," he said.

"Not with standing the serious concerns New Zealand shares with the international community over North Korea's nuclear fuel program, it is important that we play our part in providing badly-needed humanitarian assistance to help alleviate the suffering of the children of North Korea," he added.

Goff said New Zealand's funding would be directed at the most urgent needs, such as maternity medical equipment and essential drugs for health centres.

In the DPRK, "the number of maternal deaths has doubled since 1990 and health is one area where New Zealand can help UNICEF makea worthwhile contribution," Goff said.

Source: Xinhua