US NGOs Welcome Nutritional Assistance for Needy North Koreans

February 29, 2012

Contacts: Joy Portella, +1.206.437.7885, jportella@sea.mercycorps.org

Washington, DC – Five aid agencies with a long track record of humanitarian work in North Korea support a proposed U.S. Government-funded nutritional assistance program for vulnerable people in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The agencies – Christian Friends of Korea, Global Resource Services, Mercy Corps, Samaritan’s Purse and World Vision, collectively known as the “US NGOs” – have been advocating for nutritional assistance based on observed need for more than one year.

In February 2011, the US NGOs conducted a food assessment in three North Korean provinces, and observed extensive food insecurity and malnutrition, especially among young children, pregnant and nursing mothers, and hospitalized patients. Following this assessment, the NGOs strongly recommended that the U.S. government fund a program carefully targeting the nutritional needs of these vulnerable groups. During a September 2011 trip to deliver flood relief to three additional provinces – said to comprise the nation’s breadbasket – the NGOs observed similar disturbing conditions.

The findings of the US NGOs have been corroborated by the independent assessments and reports of other organizations. The World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the European Community and the U.S. Government have all confirmed this chronic need for nutritional assistance.

The US NGOs welcome the U.S. government’s current consideration of how to meet these pressing needs. The NGOs await further details on a nutritional assistance program following upcoming discussions between the American and North Korean representatives. Any potential program should be based on humanitarian principles and target the most needy.

Each of the five US NGOs has more than a decade of experience working in the DPRK. In 2008, the five collaborated on a food security assessment, as well as a subsequent program that delivered 71,000 metric tons of US Government-funded food aid to 900,000 hungry North Koreans in Chagang and North Pyongan provinces.

Christian Friends of Korea (CFK) is a Christian humanitarian and developmental aid ministry that has been working since 1995 to bring hope and healing to the people of North Korea. Its projects include the provision of food and agricultural assistance, renovation of hospitals and rest homes, clean water projects, delivery of medical equipment and supplies, and technical exchange, while building trust and relationships. For more information, please visit www.cfk.org.

Global Resource Services is dedicated to going beyond charity to find real solutions to complex global crisis where peace and security are in jeopardy. Our mission is driven by an end vision of reconciliation. Relationships, respect and reconciliation are the common threads that empower our cause. GRS have been working for human needs in DPRK over 15 years. For more information, please visit, www.grsworld.org.

Mercy Corps helps people turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world’s toughest places with the tools and support they need to transform their own lives. Our worldwide team in 36 countries is improving the lives of 19 million people. For more information, see mercycorps.org.

Samaritan's Purse is an international Christian relief and evangelism organization that responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations. Samaritan's Purse has worked in more than 100 countries to provide aid in the Name of Jesus Christ to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, please visit www.samaritanspurse.org.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve all people, regardless