International News
See other International News Articles
Title: Hunger crisis grips North Korea as food runs short
Source:
Reuters
URL Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4480827 ... ews-asia_pacific/#.To8aiLLJREw
Published: Oct 7, 2011
Author: unattributed
Post Date: 2011-10-07 11:30:39 by A K A Stone
Keywords: None
Views: 4121
Comments: 10
HAEJU, North Korea — In a pediatric hospital in North Korea's most productive farming province, children lay two to a bed. All showed signs of severe malnutrition: skin infections, patchy hair, listless apathy. "Their mothers have to bring them here on bicycles," said duty doctor Jang Kum Son in the Yellow Sea port city of Haeju. "We used to have an ambulance but it's completely broken down. One mother traveled 72 kilometers (45 miles). By the time they get here, it's often too late." It's also getting late for North Korea to get the massive amount of food aid it claims to need before the harsh winter sets in. The country's dysfunctional food-distribution system, rising global commodities prices and sanctions imposed over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs had contributed to what appears to be a hunger crisis in the North, even before devastating summer floods and typhoons compounded the emergency. The regime's appeals for massive food aid have gone mostly unanswered by a skeptical international community. Only 30 percent of a United Nations food aid target for North Korea has been met so far. The United States and South Korea, the two biggest donors before sanctions, have said they won't resume aid until they are satisfied the military-led communist regime won't divert the aid for its own uses and progress is made on disarmament talks. South Korea also says the North is exaggerating the severity of its food crisis. Visiting scholars, tourists and charity workers have sent out conflicting views about it. The U.N.'s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), for instance, said last month after visiting the North that "the damage was not so significant." Another U.N. body, the World Food Programme, which has a regular presence in the North, warned in March of growing hunger. The sharp divergence of views is one reason why the U.N.'s emergency relief coordinator will visit this month to assess the situation. North Korea's Economy and Trade Information Center, part of the foreign trade ministry, invited Alertnet to see the extent of the crisis on a rare reporting trip to its rice bowl in South Hwanghae province in the southwest. Alertnet, a humanitarian news service run by the Thomson Reuters Foundation which covers crises worldwide, saw evidence of alarming malnutrition and damaged crops, but also signs of some promise for the coming rice harvest. Although tightly controlled by government officials, an Alertnet reporter and Reuters photographers and video journalists were able to conduct a week-long trip into the South Hwanghae region. The visit included rare access to collective farms, orphanages, hospitals, rural clinics, schools and nurseries. The regime's motive in granting the access appears to be to amplify its food-aid appeals. North Korean officials at first asked Alertnet to reach out to its subscriber base to mobilize help--and at one point asked the Thomson Reuters Foundation for a donation. Alertnet declined, saying all it could do is visit and report on the situation. The picture the regime presented in South Hwanghae was largely one of chronic hunger, dire healthcare, limited access to clean water and a collapsing food-rationing system, all under a command economy that has been in crisis since the collapse of the Soviet Union 20 years ago threw North Korea into isolation. Poster Comment: Tragic!
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: A K A Stone, all (#0)
Netflix has a South Korean documentary (subtitled) about North Korea and North Koreans who have escaped that country called Kimjongilia. The actions of Kim Il-sung and his bat-shit crazy son Kim Jong-il against their people make Hussein and Gaddafi and every other tyrant the government either has or wants to replace look like saints. There are two places that the people of the world can focus their attention on in order to see true evil - North Korea and American Evangelical Protestantism.
Three local towns just went "wet" by vote this past week - I blame the Baptists for their "dry" years.
Baptists believe any type of fun is a sin.
I heard they frown on playing cards.
When I as a member, it was also dancing, singing (except in church), certain sports like swimming, and virtually any coed activity. The list seemed endless.
And they go to church on Wednesdays and twice on Sundays. What's up with that?
To make kids hate church i guess. We only went once on Sunday and then on Wednesday nights. When I joined the local swim team we had practice every night so I got out of going and never went back.
That is the dumbest thing I have ever seen you post.
You must be a Protestant.
American Evangelical Protestantism is not a place dumb ass. Go back to your Wall Street Protests. ROTFLMAO.
#2. To: Fibr Dog (#1)
...to see true evil - North Korea and American Evangelical Protestantism.
#3. To: Fred Mertz (#2)
Three local towns just went "wet" by vote this past week - I blame the Baptists for their "dry" years.
#4. To: mininggold (#3)
#5. To: Fred Mertz (#4)
I heard they frown on playing cards.
#6. To: mininggold (#5)
#7. To: Fred Mertz (#6)
And they go to church on Wednesdays and twice on Sundays. What's up with that?
#8. To: Fibr Dog (#1)
North Korea and American Evangelical Protestantism.
#9. To: A K A Stone (#8)
#10. To: Fibr Dog (#1)
There are two places that the people of the world can focus their attention on in order to see true evil - North Korea and American Evangelical Protestantism.
Honest Socialism
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]