NEW YORK (UMNS) -- As representatives from North and South Korea met here March 5 to discuss peace for the first time since the Korean war, relief organizations continued to address needs created by North Korea's famine.
A massive worldwide response is necessary to prevent imminent starvation among North Korea's 23 million people, according to a National Council of Churches (NCCC) delegation that visited there at the end of January. United Methodist Bishop Melvin Talbert, NCC president, headed the delegation. (See UMNS Releases No. 51 & 52 {3405 & 3406}.)
In February, an ecumenical group of missionaries meeting in South Korea -- including United Methodists -- issued a brief statement urging "our respective governments and the government of the Republic of Korea to immediately support and facilitate unconditional food aid to North Korea.
"We further call upon our related churches and denominations in Korea and abroad to actively promote and support food relief for North Korea directly and to press their governments to immediately support and facilitate such aid," the statement concluded.
Both Church World Service (CWS), the NCC's relief agency, and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) have become involved in famine aid.
After collecting $410,932 in 1995-96 -- used to purchase rice, beef, antibiotics, blankets and rehydration tablets for North Korea -- CWS issued a new $500,000 appeal for famine assistance in January.
In early March, CWS, in conjunction with Action By Churches Together (ACT), had sent another 665 metric tons of rice on its way to North Korea, along with a shipment of barley seeds. As part of a special "double cropping" experiment, the barley seeds will be planted in March for harvest in June, after which the rice will be planted.
UMCOR already has sent two emergency shipments to North Korea and is still accumulating donated boxes from individuals and churches at the UMCOR Depot in Baldwin, La.
March 10, 1997
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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