DESTITUTE AREAS STRUGGLE AMID COVID-19

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​This winter is going to be especially tough for the residents of destitute neighborhoods. Even finding charcoal briquettes is hard this year, as there are fewer volunteers to help and charity funds are dwindling.

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Chung Yeon-kwan from Hwanghae-do Province of North Korea has lived in this destitute area for seven decades. Having lost his job, he relies on the monthly basic living subsidy of 500,000 won. With temperatures falling to subzero levels lately, keeping his home warm is a challenge.

[Soundbite] CHUNG YEON-KWAN(RECIPIENT OF BASIC LIVING SUBSIDIES) : "I need coal briquettes to keep my home warm. I have installed these plastic sheets to block off the wind."

After hearing about Chung's predicament, volunteers paid a visit. They stand in a long line to move coal briquettes to his home. However, the number of volunteers is less than half of last year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Soundbite] JEON JUNG-AE(CIVIC GROUP) : "We are short-handed this year because of COVID-19. Our volunteers who couldn't make it feel very sorry. They'd love to join in."

Each household in this neighborhood received about 300 briquettes. That's less than a third of what's needed to get through the winter. The number of briquettes donated this year is only half the number recorded last year.

[Soundbite] HEO IN-HWAN(DIRECTOR OF DONG-GU DIST., BUSAN) : "This year, donations have decreased by one-third. Elderly residents in vulnerable neighborhoods will likely have a hard time this winter."

Charity funds are also dwindling with the fundraising period being ten days shorter this year and the target amount set at only 85 percent of 2019. With less help for those in need because of the pandemic, destitute neighborhoods in urban areas are facing a tough winter.