ID :
26532
Sat, 10/25/2008 - 15:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/26532
The shortlink copeid
Food in North Korea (EDITORIAL from The Korea Herald on Oct. 25)
North Korea may soon face a humanitarian emergency if urgent food assistance is not provided, the World Food Program warned this week.
The food shortage in North Korea has drastically worsened in recent months and
many areas are sliding toward an acute food and livelihood crisis, Jean-Pierre de
Margerie, WFP director in Pyongyang, said at a forum hosted by South Korean
relief groups. The severe food shortages in North Hamgyeong, Yanggang provinces
and some areas in South Hamgyeong may lead to a humanitarian emergency, he added.
In a recent report, the WFP called on the international community for additional
emergency aid as the U.N. agency's food reserves allocated for North Korea would
soon be depleted. The report said around 2.7 million people on the west coast
would run out of food in early October while 1.4 million people on the more
vulnerable east coast will face a complete break in the supply of aid in
November.
While there has been no evidence of people starving, "We shouldn't wait for
another starvation before ringing the alarm bells," said the WFP official.
Early last month, the WFP formally asked the South Korean government to
contribute up to $60 million in emergency aid to North Korea -- North Korea may
suffer famine unless aid worth about $500 million was given in the next 15
months, the food agency said. Seoul has not yet responded to the request.
North Korea did not request annual humanitarian aid shipments of about 400,000
tons of rice from Seoul this year as inter-Korean relations have become
deadlocked after the conservative government of Lee Myung-bak came into power.
The Unification Ministry said it was still deliberating on the WFP appeal. While
the government said it would not tie food aid to the communist state's nuclear
disarmament, it also said public opinion was a consideration in deciding whether
to send aid.
Unfortunately, negative public sentiment toward the North reached a nadir this
summer after a South Korean tourist was shot to death at the Mount Geumgang
Resort in North Korea. A string of vitriolic statements against South Korea also
does nothing to improve Pyongyang's standing in South Korean eyes.
Furthermore, South Korea is now in the grips of an economic crisis, and the full
attention of the government and the people is on formulating a recovery. Indeed,
in times of such economic difficulties, it will be more difficult than ever to
gather public opinion in favor of helping the recalcitrant North.
Yet, we cannot just watch and do nothing while North Koreans slip into a food
crisis. If the Unification Ministry is waiting for a public mandate to assist
North Koreans, precious time needed to save lives may be lost.
De Margerie renewed the WFP's appeal for South Korean contributions in a meeting
with Seoul officials yesterday. The government must decide soon whether averting
an impending emergency across the border does not take a greater priority than
acquiescing to popular sentiment.
(END)
Downloa
The food shortage in North Korea has drastically worsened in recent months and
many areas are sliding toward an acute food and livelihood crisis, Jean-Pierre de
Margerie, WFP director in Pyongyang, said at a forum hosted by South Korean
relief groups. The severe food shortages in North Hamgyeong, Yanggang provinces
and some areas in South Hamgyeong may lead to a humanitarian emergency, he added.
In a recent report, the WFP called on the international community for additional
emergency aid as the U.N. agency's food reserves allocated for North Korea would
soon be depleted. The report said around 2.7 million people on the west coast
would run out of food in early October while 1.4 million people on the more
vulnerable east coast will face a complete break in the supply of aid in
November.
While there has been no evidence of people starving, "We shouldn't wait for
another starvation before ringing the alarm bells," said the WFP official.
Early last month, the WFP formally asked the South Korean government to
contribute up to $60 million in emergency aid to North Korea -- North Korea may
suffer famine unless aid worth about $500 million was given in the next 15
months, the food agency said. Seoul has not yet responded to the request.
North Korea did not request annual humanitarian aid shipments of about 400,000
tons of rice from Seoul this year as inter-Korean relations have become
deadlocked after the conservative government of Lee Myung-bak came into power.
The Unification Ministry said it was still deliberating on the WFP appeal. While
the government said it would not tie food aid to the communist state's nuclear
disarmament, it also said public opinion was a consideration in deciding whether
to send aid.
Unfortunately, negative public sentiment toward the North reached a nadir this
summer after a South Korean tourist was shot to death at the Mount Geumgang
Resort in North Korea. A string of vitriolic statements against South Korea also
does nothing to improve Pyongyang's standing in South Korean eyes.
Furthermore, South Korea is now in the grips of an economic crisis, and the full
attention of the government and the people is on formulating a recovery. Indeed,
in times of such economic difficulties, it will be more difficult than ever to
gather public opinion in favor of helping the recalcitrant North.
Yet, we cannot just watch and do nothing while North Koreans slip into a food
crisis. If the Unification Ministry is waiting for a public mandate to assist
North Koreans, precious time needed to save lives may be lost.
De Margerie renewed the WFP's appeal for South Korean contributions in a meeting
with Seoul officials yesterday. The government must decide soon whether averting
an impending emergency across the border does not take a greater priority than
acquiescing to popular sentiment.
(END)
Downloa
