NEW YORK (UMNS) -- The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has received a license from the U.S. Department of Commerce to ship food to North Korea and is appealing to local churches to send relief boxes and money to purchase rice.
"This is another Russia Food Lift," said UMCOR staff member Wendy Whiteside, referring to thousands of boxes boxes sent by United Methodists to Russia in 1992.
UMCOR's goal is to send 100,000 relief boxes and 3,000 tons of bulk rice to the people of North Korea. One box will provide a week's worth of food for a five-member family.
"North Korea is so isolated that the media hasn't been able to tell how bad it really is," Whiteside said. "Just recently some journalists were allowed in and their reports indicate that people are literally starving to death and winter hasn't even begun."
Harvests in North Korea declined between 1989 and 1994 because of economic, environmental, and weather-related conditions. Crops in the summer of 1995 were drastically reduced because of floods and a typhoon. The summer of 1996 saw more flooding.
Because of these conditions, North Korea for the first time appealed for assistance from the United Nations and the world community.
In the spring of 1996, UMCOR received a license from the U.S. Department of Commerce to ship $100,000 worth of rice, powdered milk, blankets and boots to areas of the country that were suffering most.
Another license was issued to UMCOR this month to ship bulk rice and relief boxes containing food and hand gardening tools.
"By responding generously and quickly we will be making a really important difference in the lives of people," said Whiteside. "Not only have we not known much about the people of North Korea but they know little about the outside world. What a wonderful opportunity for us to witness through action, particularly as Christians. We will be showing them that we think they are worthy as children of God."
Size and content of relief boxes are restricted by the U.S. license, Whiteside explained. Each box must contain certain amounts of rice, powered milk, canned meats, shortening, candy, and other items.
For instruction on how and what to mail, call 1-800-814-8765. For instruction in Korean language, call 1-800-636-0905.
Boxes, labeled "North Korea Emergency", are to be sent to the UMCOR Depot in Baldwin, La. For each box, $20 must be sent to cover the cost of shipping from the depot to Korea.
Donors are asked to enclose a postcard with their return address for the recipent of each parcel. UMCOR will add a postcard, in Korean, exlplaining how the food and other items were acquired and that the prayers and best wishes of the United Methodist Church accompany the box.
UMCOR is also asking that persons contribute to a North Korea Emergency Advance Fund (226435-0) to help purchase bulk rice which will be shipped. Be sure to write the Advance Code #226435-0 and "North Korea Emergency" on each check.
The bulk rice, combined with the rice in the food box, will provide each family with enough rice for one month. UMCOR can purchase rice by the ton, which means that 25 cents will buy one pound of rice.
Sept. 30, 1996
Please give to UMCOR Advance #226435, North Korea Emergency. Give through your local United Methodist church or send financial contributions to: UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Call 1-800-554-8583 to make a credit card donation. One hundred percent of your gift goes to relief efforts in North Korea. United Methodists' generous giving to the One Great Hour of Sharing, part of their ongoing contribution to mission around the world, supplements the cost of Advance gifts.
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of the United Methodist Church.
United Methodist Committee on Relief
Room 330, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
Voice Phone: 212-870-3816; FAX: 212-749-2641
Email: umcor@gbgm-umc.org
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