DATE=8/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237681
TITLE=NORTH KOREA ASSISTANCE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED
CRESCENT SOCIETIES SAYS THAT RECENT FLASH FLOODS AND HAIL IN
NORTH KOREA ARE LIKELY TO WORSEN THE FOOD SITUATION IN THE
COUNTRY. LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA THAT HEAVY WEEKEND
RAINS SEVERELY DAMAGED NORTH KOREA'S MAIZE CROPS AND RICE FIELDS.
TEXT: THE RED CROSS AND OTHER AID AGENCIES ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
ASSESSING THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. BUT, THEY SAY,
PRELIMINARY REPORTS SHOW THAT AT LEAST FOUR PROVINCES WERE HARD
HIT BY THE RAINSTORMS, WHICH DESTROYED BRIDGES AND HOUSES AND
WASHED AWAY MAJOR ROADS AND RAILWAYS.
IN GENEVA, THE RED CROSS EXPERT ON NORTH KOREA SAYS HE'S AFRAID
MOST OF THE MAIZE CROP -- WHICH WAS ALMOST READY TO BE HARVESTED
-- MIGHT HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT. MARCEL FORTIER SAYS THIS COULD
WORSEN THE PLIGHT OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY SUFFERING
FROM LACK OF FOOD.
///FORTIER ACT///
NORTH KOREA IN GENERAL SUFFERS A SHORTAGE OF FOOD AS A
RESULT OF SEVERAL YEARS OF NATURAL DISASTER. AND THE
LAST DAYS OF RAIN IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WILL
CERTAINLY NOT EASE THE SITUATION THERE. THIS, ADDED TO
ECONOMICAL DIFFICULTIES, MAKES THE LIFE OF PEOPLE IN
NORTH KOREA QUITE DIFFICULT.
///END ACT///
AID AGENCIES SAY THE FOOD SITUATION IN NORTH KOREA REMAINS
FRAGILE. BUT, THEY SAY, CONDITIONS HAVE GENERALLY IMPROVED
BECAUSE OF THE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF FOOD ALREADY BROUGHT INTO THE
COUNTRY BY U-N AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL AID AGENCIES.
THE UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND, UNICEF, ASSISTS MORE THAN
FOUR-AND-A-HALF MILLION PEOPLE IN NORTH KOREA, INCLUDING
500-THOUSAND CHILDREN UNDER AGE FIVE. UNICEF SPOKESMAN, PATRICK
MC CORMICK, SAYS THEIR EFFORTS THERE SEEM TO BE PAYING OFF.
///MC CORMICK ACT///
ACCORDING TO OUR OFFICE IN PYONGYANG, THE INCIDENCE OF
MALNOURISHED CHILDREN APPEARS TO BE DECLINING AND THE
SITUATION HAS IMPROVED IN ACCESSIBLE AREAS. HOWEVER,
THIS HAS YET TO BE STATISTICALLY VERIFIED. UNICEF STAFF
REPORT SEEING DECLINING NUMBERS OF MALNOURISHED CHILDREN
IN HOSPITALS DURING FIELD VISITS THIS YEAR.
///END ACT///
MR. MC CORMICK SAYS HOSPITAL RECORDS INDICATE THE DEATHS HAVE
GONE DOWN. BUT, HE ADDS, NO ONE KNOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE MAY BE
DYING OF HUNGER.
THE AID AGENCIES SAY THEY HAVE FREE ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE IN NORTH
KOREA -- BUT ONLY IN AREAS WHERE THE AGENCIES ARE ALLOWED TO
WORK. HOWEVER, THEY NOTE THAT MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY REMAIN
OFF LIMITS. NOR ARE THEY PERMITTED TO GO AROUND AND GATHER
INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF NORTH
KOREANS. THIS, THE AID AGENCIES SAY, FRUSTRATES THEIR ABILITY TO
ADEQUATELY HELP PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HUNGER AND DISEASE. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF
26-Aug-98 7:37 AM EDT (1137 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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