ReliefWeb

(Washington, D.C. Jan. 11) The Institute for Strategic Reconciliation (ISR) confirmed today that critically needed Essential Drugs have arrived at Port Nampo of DPR Korea on December 29, 1999 for distribution to key medical facilities in the next two months.

The ISR has shipped a 20-foot container of medical aid from the United States on Nov. 23, according to its "Reconciliation Child Project" which sends medicines only with effective dates on the basis of the DPRK essential drug list to help save children and their family members suffering from acute/chronic illness in DPR Korea.

Among others, the 20-foot container of essential drugs have included Antibiotics (10,000 capsules of Amoxicillin/500 mg, 600 vials of Ceftriaxone Sodium 500 mg, and Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate 400 mg to treat 14,400 patients), Analgestic/antipyretic medicines (Acetaminophen 80 mg to treat about 30,000 children, Ibuprofen 200g to treat over 100,000 patients, and Acetaminophen 500 mg to treat 70,000 patients),

Cardiovascular (100,000 capsules of Nifedipine 200mg, 72,000 tablets of Verapamil Hydrochloride 120 mg), Ulcer medicines/Antacid to treat about 35,000 patients, and Oral Rehydration Salts to treat over 6,000 children suffering from diahaerea. These medicines are estimated to treat over 600,000 patients for a week, according to the WHO standards.

The medicines are all prepared on the basis of the list of drugs which DPRK had asked during the ISR's visit in last September. President Asaph Young Chun of ISR will be leading a 6-member Reconciliation Ambassadors with Medicines (RAMs) in February to visit key medical facilities both in rural areas and cities to monitor the transparent distribution of medicines, and assess the impact of ISR medical aid which was received by DPRK in September and December respectively.

The Washington-based ISR is an independent think tank seeking to restore reconciliation where conflict exists by engaging in scientific, cultural, educational, humanitarian, and religious research. The ISR addresses policy challenges promoting international and national reconciliation, and facilitates conflict resolution policy research and studies in civilian and government programs. The ISR is incorporated in the state of Virginia. The ISR is a founding member of the InterAction DPR Korea Working Group, a consortium of over 30 international NGOs working in DPR Korea.

For more information or involvement, contact ISR at 301.570.3948, 301.570.0911 (fax), or isr_washington@yahoo.com