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DATE=4/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248541
TITLE=U-N / NORTH KOREA FOOD (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM LAUNCHED AN APPEAL TODAY (FRIDAY) 
FOR 260 MILLION DOLLARS TO PROVIDE MORE FOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA. 
V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT:  WORLD FOOD PROGRAM DIRECTOR CATHERINE BERTINI SAYS THE AID
IS NEEDED TO FEED ABOUT EIGHT MILLION PEOPLE IN NORTH KOREA OVER 
THE NEXT YEAR.  MOST OF THEM, SHE SAYS, ARE CHILDREN AND ELDERLY 
PEOPLE.
                       /// BERTINI ACT ///
         THIS PROGRAM WILL ALLOW US TO REACH ANOTHER 
         ONE-POINT-ONE-MILLION CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 11 
         AND 17, AND ALSO ALLOW US TO REACH 25 PERCENT OF THE 
         ELDERLY POPULATION OF THE COUNTRY.  YOU KNOW CHILDREN 
         AND THE ELDERLY ARE ALWAYS THE MOST VULNERABLE IN 
         SITUATIONS OF FOOD AND SECURITY, AND PARTICULARLY WHEN 
         THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TO EAT AND PEOPLE BECOME VERY 
         HUNGRY.
                         /// END ACT ///
MS. BERTINI SAYS THE NEW EMERGENCY OPERATION WILL TARGET THE 
LARGEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE SINCE THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM BEGAN 
FIGHTING FAMINE IN NORTH KOREA IN 1995.
U-N SURVEYS SHOW ACUTE MALNUTRITION IN ABOUT 16 PERCENT OF 
CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGE OF SIX MONTHS AND SEVEN YEARS IN NORTH 
KOREA.  CHRONIC MALNUTRITION IS SAID TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 
STUNTING THE GROWTH OF 62 PERCENT OF NORTH KOREAN CHILDREN.
MS. BERTINI SAYS EMERGENCY AID IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT NOW, AS 
THERE IS NO SIGN THAT CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
                       /// BERTINI ACT ///
         THESE ASSESSMENTS CONTINUE TO SHOW US THAT EVEN IF THERE
         IS A RELATIVELY GOOD HARVEST, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FOOD 
         IN THE COUNTRY TO SUSTAIN ALL THE PEOPLE WHO NEED FOOD, 
         THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO BE CONTINUING TO ASK THE 
         INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR ASSISTANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF
         NORTH KOREA.
                         /// END ACT ///
THE 260 MILLION DOLLAR FOOD AID PACKAGE WOULD PROVIDE CEREALS, 
OIL, CORN-SOYA-BLEND, SUGAR AND HIGH ENERGY BISCUITS TO NORTH 
KOREA'S MOST NEEDY RESIDENTS.  IN SOME CASES, DISTRIBUTIONS WOULD
BE MADE AS PART OF A FOOD-FOR-WORK PROGRAM, IN WHICH WORKERS ARE 
GIVEN TWO KILOGRAMS OF FOOD EACH DAY TO SUPPORT A FAMILY OF FOUR.
(SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF
23-Apr-99 5:14 PM EDT (2114 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.