Buddist group sends food for mothers, babies in N. Korea

SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean Buddhist organization said Tuesday that it shipped a fresh batch of food aid for mothers and children in North Korea.

Baby formula and maternal nutrition worth 380 million won (US$302,307) will be
distributed in Hoeryong, a town in North Korea's northernmost North Hamgyong
Province, said Seoul-based Jungto Society (JTS).
The organization expects the food aid, including dried seaweed powder, flour,
milk powder, sugar and salt, will be able to reach 25,000 mothers and 6,300
infants and children.
"Hamgyong Province usually receives even less outside assistance than other
regions because it is at the northeastern tip of the country. We are reaching out
to those who are most vulnerable to food shortages in the region," Kim Ae-kyung,
a JTS organizer, said.
JTS delivered life support, oxygen generators and other medical equipment worth
150 million won to a hospital in the same province early this month. This past
year, it sent 1,200 tons of flour and 500 tons of noodles to the country.
Private aid to North Korea continued in 2008, while the Seoul government
suspended rice and fertilizer shipments amid frozen inter-Korean ties.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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