DATE=12/6/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NORTH KOREA FAMINE (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256876
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A United Nations official stationed in North
Korea says the famine-stricken country is on the way
to a fragile recovery but still needs international
assistance. V-O-A correspondent Roger Wilkison
reports the official says the worst of the crisis
appears to be over, but the situation of children who
suffered from malnutrition during years of famine is
irreversible.
TEXT: Dilawar Ali Khan has just completed his first
year in Pyongyang as the representative of UNICEF, the
United Nations Children's Fund. He says he has seen a
slight economic recovery in that year, noting that
crop production has increased and that industry is
reviving. He says there are more cars and bicycles on
the streets of Pyongyang and other cities, and that
some areas are receiving electricity for up to three
or four hours.
But Mr. Khan says North Korea's economy is still
suffering because of its failure to carry out reforms
and open up to the outside world. Although he says
there are fewer signs of malnutrition among the
general populace than there were a year and a half
ago, women and children are still vulnerable.
That, he says, is why North Korea still needs foreign
assistance, even though interest in helping the
reclusive country among donors seems to be flagging.
Mr. Khan says a continuation of the slight
improvements he has noted over the past year depends
entirely on foreign aid.
/// FIRST KHAN ACTUALITY ///
There is a fear that, if external assistance in
terms of food, health and nutrition and support
for the rehabilitation of the social
infrastructure by the humanitarian organizations
is withdrawn, then we can see big risk reversals
in the future.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Last year, UNICEF conducted a survey that found that
16-percent of North Korea's children suffered from
wasting and another 62-percent were malnourished. Mr.
Khan says the percentage of those who are wasting away
has since declined, but that there has been little
change in the number of those whose growth has been
stunted by malnutrition.
/// SECOND KHAN ACTUALITY ///
I think they are damaged for life. It is not
something that can be corrected or reversed.16,
15, 14-year old girls and boys, they look seven
or eight. There's nothing that can reverse that
damage.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Mr. Khan says he has found a more receptive attitude
among North Korean officials with whom his agency
deals than was the case in the past. He says
officials who once began every meeting with five
minutes of ritual praise for North Korea's leaders now
get straight down to business. But he says the North
Korean government appears to be unwilling to carry out
the reforms donors and potential foreign investors
want before they commit themselves to putting money
into the country.
/// THIRD KHAN ACTUALITY ///
They are interested in change, but perhaps on
their own terms. The pace of change that they
want is also to be determined by them, whereas
for a big improvement, you need a big change. I
don't think there is any indication they are
ready for the big change.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
UNICEF operates in six of North Korea's 10 provinces,
supplying medicine, vaccines, and training.
(Signed)
NEB/rw/gm
06-Dec-1999 07:03 AM EDT (06-Dec-1999 1203 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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