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DATE=3/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246448
TITLE=W-F-P / NORTH KOREA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, W-F-P, SAYS NORTH 
KOREA CONTINUES TO SUFFER FROM FAMINE -- WITH A CRUCIAL PERIOD 
COMING UP IN A FEW WEEKS.  LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA.
TEXT:  W-F-P SPOKESWOMAN CHRISTIANE BERTHIAUME SAYS MANY NORTH 
KOREANS HAVE DIED OF STARVATION OR DISEASES RELATED TO 
MALNUTRITION.  BUT SHE SAYS THE AGENCY  CANNOT  CONFIRM REPORTS 
THAT THE DEATH TOLL MAY BE AS HIGH AS THREE-MILLION PEOPLE. 
MS. BERTHIAUME SAYS NORTH KOREA SOON WILL BE ENTERING WHAT SHE 
CALLS THE LEAN PERIOD.  IN A FEW WEEKS, SHE SAYS THE NORTH KOREAN
AUTHORITIES WILL HAVE DISTRIBUTED ALL THE FOOD PRODUCED IN LAST 
YEAR'S HARVEST.  THIS MEANS PEOPLE WILL DEPEND FOR SURVIVAL 
ENTIRELY ON INTERNATIONAL FOOD AID AND ON WHATEVER THEY CAN FIND 
TO EAT.
                  ///  BERTHIAUME ACT ONE  ///
         THEY'RE GOING TO EAT THE GRASS, BARK, SEED, WILD FOODS. 
         IT DOES CALM THE CRAMPS, FAMINE CRAMPS THAT YOU CAN HAVE
         IN THE STOMACH.  BUT, IT IS VERY VERY BAD FOR YOUR 
         STOMACH AND PEOPLE GET SICK FROM THAT. 
                        ///  END ACT  ///
MS. BERTHIAUME SAYS MALNUTRITION IS INCREASING AMONG NORTH KOREAN
CHILDREN OVER THE AGE OF SEVEN.  
SHE SAYS YOUNGER CHILDREN -- THOSE IN NURSERY SCHOOL AND 
KINDERGARTEN -- ARE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE.  THIS IS BECAUSE THE 
FOOD AID THEY RECEIVE IS COOKED FOR THEM AND EATEN BY THEM AT 
SCHOOL.  BUT, THE W-F-P SPOKESWOMAN SAYS THE OLDER CHILDREN GO TO
PRIMARY SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE  NO  KITCHENS WHERE FOOD CAN BE COOKED
AND SERVED.
                  ///  BERTHIAUME ACT TWO  ///
         SO THE CHILDREN BRING THE FOOD AT HOME.  AND WHAT WE 
         THINK IS THAT THEY SHARE WITH THE REST OF THE FAMILY 
         BECAUSE THE REST OF THE FAMILY HAS NOTHING.  SO, WE 
         DON'T SEE AMONG CHILDREN FROM SEVEN TO 10, THE SAME 
         INCREASE IN THEIR HEALTH SITUATION, NUTRITIONAL 
         SITUATION THAT WE SEE IN YOUNGER KIDS.  SO THIS IS VERY 
         WORRYING.  
                        ///  END ACT  ///
MS. BERTHIAUME SAYS W-F-P HOPES TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY 
DISTRIBUTING HIGH PROTEIN BISCUITS TO OLDER CHILDREN WHICH THEY 
WILL EAT AT SCHOOL.  
THE AGENCY IS CURRENTLY PROVIDING FOOD FOR MORE THAN FIVE-MILLION
PEOPLE IN NORTH KOREA -- ABOUT ONE-QUARTER OF THE COUNTRY'S 
POPULATION.  (SIGNED) 
NEB/LS/JWH
10-Mar-99 8:31 AM EST (1331 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.