CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE OFFICE CWS/ACT APPEAL: NORTH KOREA RELIEF AND REHABILITATION - #976503 (In support of ACT Appeal ASKP-01 for $2,753,000) CWS Target: $150,000 February 18, 2000
SITUATION: Ongoing economic problems and a series of natural disasters continue to cause hardship in North Korea. Although the food crisis in North Korea has eased since its peak three years ago, the overall situation in the country remains extremely fragile. Continued humanitarian assistance will be needed to help large numbers of people for the foreseeable future. A nation-wide nutritional survey of young children conducted in late 1998 by the World Food Program, UNICEF and the European Union established that 62 percent were affected by chronic malnutrition and 16 percent suffered from acute malnutrition. RESPONSE: The ACT network, including CWS, has provided more than $17 million in cash and in-kind assistance to North Korea since 1995, including food, medicines and medical supplies, blankets, clothing, seeds and fertilizers. The current appeal is seeking support for a four-part program that includes nutrition/food aid, food security, health/medical, and emergency contingency components. CWS is implementing one part of the food security component: a three-year potato growing project in Sepo County in Kangwon Province. This project aims to increase seed potato production for Sepo County and the surrounding areas and establish a sustainable seed potato production center. CWS is part of a consortium of private voluntary organizations (PVOs) working in Sepo County. CWS also administers the ACT network support and partnership in the NGO Food Aid Liaison Unit (FALU) within the World Food Program office located in Pyongyang. The project is part of a nation-wide effort to increase and expand the production of potatoes to meet urgent food needs of the people. Because of its high altitude and good transportation links to the provincial capital, Sepo County is well-suited to become a key seed potato production center. CWS SUPPORT: CWS is providing $130,000 in assistance to meet a $280,000 pledge toward this appeal. As a result, CWS is seeking $150,000 in denominational and public support. Denominations can support the appeal either directly to ACT or by sending contributions to Church World Service in Elkhart (CWS/ACT Appeal, North Korea Drought, #976503). Those wanting more information on the ACT appeal should contact the CWS Emergency Response Office. Or visit the ACT Web Site at: www.act-intl.org. CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, Attn. North Korea Drought, #976503, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515. Phone pledges or credit card donations: 1-800-297-1516, ext. 222. On-line contributions to: http://www.churchworldservice.org Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516, ext. 111. For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is responding, contact CWS Emergency Response. Telephone: (212) 870-3151 After-hours emergency pager: (800) 780-0853 Internet Web Site: http://www.ncccusa.org/CWS/emre distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -