Most foreign humanitarian workers have left or are set to leave North Korea, with five more having departed this week, informed sources told NK News. It’s likely only one NGO, Concern Worldwide, now maintains a physical presence in the country, according to a source.

The NGO workers left North Korea along with Polish, Czech and Mongolian diplomats on Thursday, the sources said, following Pyongyang’s continued restrictions on movement designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Three NGOs may have vacated their offices in Pyongyang this week: France’s Triangle Génération Humanitaire and Première Urgence Internationale and Germany’s Deutsche Welthungerhilfe. The two French NGOs have not yet responded to NK News‘s inquiry regarding the reported departure, while Deutsche Welthungerhilfe declined to comment. The French and German embassies in Seoul also did not provide a comment.

However, Concern Worldwide, an Irish humanitarian organization, confirmed to NK News on Friday that its work in the country “has not changed” and that its personnel is “still remaining” in Pyongyang.

Another NGO, Denmark’s Mission East, likely left in March, according to a source. That month also saw a relief flight out of Pyongyang carrying out almost one-third of the U.N. staff in the country. NK News understands that more U.N. personnel are likely to leave the country in the coming months.

The WHO (World Health Organization), one of the six U.N. agencies operating in the DPRK, did not respond to a request for comment on its plans to maintain a physical presence in the country. The agency has been one of the only channels providing official COVID-19 updates from the DPRK to the outside world.

Meanwhile, resident staff of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are continuing their work in the country, press offices of both organizations told NK News on Friday.

“We actually have kept the permanent ICRC presence in the country with two staff members who are currently posted there,” ICRC spokesperson Pawel Krzysiek said.

Thursday’s departure occurred only a few days after the Swedish embassy in North Korea “temporarily” vacated its office while formally keeping its doors open. Sources say that the Polish, Czech and Mongolian embassies will continue to operate with some foreign staff on the ground.

The DPRK government’s restrictions on movement and the transfer of goods in order to combat COVID-19 is likely the reason why large numbers of foreigners have decided to leave North Korea.

In late July, North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) formally prohibited diplomats and personnel from international organizations residing in Pyongyang from leaving the city.

The new rules mean that those working for NGOs and U.N. agencies cannot make visits to monitor on-site projects in provincial areas — an issue raised recently by UNICEF.

To make matters worse for humanitarian workers in the country, North Korea in late July also decided to close down the sea route between the Chinese city of Dalian and Nampho port of the western coast of the DPRK.

As a result, the only remaining major entry point for aid from outside is the Sinuiju-Dandong land route. This is likely to be overloaded following the closure of the Dalian-Nampho sea route, slowing down deliveries of goods, including humanitarian aid items.

UNICEF confirmed to NK News that the Dalian-Nampho sea route remains closed as of Thursday this week.

Chad O’Carroll contributed to this report. Edited by James Fretwell