CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE OFFICE
CWS EMERGENCY APPEAL:
NORTH KOREA RELIEF AND REHABILITATION
EMERGENCY ACCOUNT ##6503 for $125,000
February 15, 2001


SITUATION: An unusually bitter cold winter, with temperatures dropping to
30 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit) has added to the ongoing problems
facing North Korea, which has experienced chronic food and fuel shortages
in recent years.

Though food aid to North Korea by both governments and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) has helped ease the crisis, the famine has resulted
in the deaths of an estimated 2 million people, according to U.S.
congressional research.

In a report late last year, a joint mission to North Korea by the
Rome-based U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food
Program (WFP) said the country's ability to buy food fell far short of its
needs due to a lack of foreign exchange. The WFP has issued a consolidated
appeal for 810,000 metric tons of international food aid this year.


RESPONSE: Since 1995, the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International
network, including CWS, has provided approximately $17 million in cash and
in-kind assistance to North Korea, including food, medicines and medical
supplies, blankets, clothing, seeds and fertilizers.

The current appeal - for $125,000 - would support an intended shipment of
food items to North Korea and help fund the NGO Food Aid Liaison Unit
(FALU) within the World Food Program office located in Pyongyang, North
Korea, as well as possible food monitors.

The FALU position will be part of an upcoming ACT appeal, which is
expected to be released later this year and which CWS will support. This
CWS appeal will be applied toward supporting the overall ACT efforts. (CWS
has been part of a private voluntary organizations consortium that has
also included the Korean American Sharing Movement; Adventist Development
and Relief Agency (ADRA) and Mercy Corps.)


To support Church World Service Response efforts in North Korea, please
send support to Account # 6503. To support this effort please direct
assistance to:

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, Attn. North Korea Relief and Rehabilitation, P.O.
Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.  Phone pledges or credit card donations:
1-800-297-1516.  On-line contributions to:



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
E-mail: cherlinger@ncccusa.org
After-hours emergency pager: (800) 780-0853
Web site: www.cwserp.org


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