Buddhist 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 nutritional supplements for mothers worth 380 million won
(US$302,307) will be distributed in Hoeryong, a town in the impoverished state'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 2,500 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.
The shipment from the southern port of Busan is expected to arrive in the North's
northeastern port of Rajin by Thursday in normal weather conditions, Kim 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 also sent 1,200 tons of flour and 500 tons of noodles to the country.
Private aid to North Korea continued in 2008 despite the government's suspension
of rice and fertilizer shipments amid frozen inter-Korean ties.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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