Hidden Nook
"Because in Cyberspace, no one can hear you scream."
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
North Korean Food Crisis
[Media Source*] (Hat Tip: One Free Korea)
The WFP regional director, Anthony Banbury, said contributions from overseas had all but dried up. He said the organisation was having to cut handouts to some of those most in need.
North Korea has depended on food aid from overseas for the last decade. But major donors have made no new contributions this year and the WFP is warning of disaster if they do not resume shipments.
This is mainly due to the frustration many governments (as well as private organizations) have had with the regime of Kim Jung-il. South Korea (which has done a poor job helping out with the "table talks") as well as the United States are considering sending food, but seem to be waiting on whether North Korea will decide to suspend it's nuclear development. Although the President is still seeking a diplomatic solution towards this mess, it may be more plausible for military action as North Korea has already begun cutting food supplies to some of it's most needy recipients, including the elderly and pregnant women.
The government food ration has already been cut to 250g (9oz), just half the recommended daily amount...
It has warned of a possible return to famine conditions.
Joshua (over at "One Free Korea") makes some strong comments regarding the Korean situation.
I certainly don't favor cutting off donations to the very people the North Korean government is trying to exterminate as a way of pressuring their government. As Refugees International told us in this new report, the government continues to deprive the "hostile" class and those living in "closed" areas of even basis sustenance, all of which is distributed through the government's distribution system. We should be aiding those people directly--with food, medicine, and if necessary, with guns.
The North Koreans have been living in terrible conditions mirroring the holocaust for the past 50 years (without much action from the leading world nations to thwart this) and it seems the current stalemate between Washington and Pyongyang is only delaying the inevitable war. It is time the United States along with it's allies to begin unveiling the "fist" in order to get more cooperation out of the regime.
People are starving as we continue "diplomatic sessions" and decades from now (assuming North Korea has fallen by then) the children of the upcoming generation will be asking why the world bodies did nothing while another holocaust went unabated. How many more lives are lost will depend on how much the world tolerates the destruction of their fellow human beings.
(June 2) Update: It seems like North Korea is forcing it's "city slickers" to work the fields. One Free Korea has the latest scoop on this.
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By Darnell Clayton ⢠1:14 AM ⢠Email Post ⢠â¢
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