KNCCK and other South Korean civil society groups come together to launch a national appeal for food assistance to the North.

KNCCK and other South Korean civil society groups come together to launch a national appeal for food assistance to the North.

 



As news spreads that the current food situation in the North is acute, South Korean humanitarian assistance NGOs launched an appeal for assistance at a press conference in Seoul on May 14^th. The “Korea NGO Council for Cooperation with North Korea” (KNCCK), the “Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation” (KCRC), and the “Korean Conference of Religions for Peace” (KCRP) came together for the plea.

Through the joint press conference the KNCCK and partners stated that through their “nationwide campaign spanning diverse levels of society collecting donations, emergency food assistance to citizens in the North will be provided.” KNCCK Chairman Lee Gi-bom, KCRC’s Kim Hong-gul, and KSRC South North Exchange Chairman Jeong In-sung were joined by 30 representatives of South Korean NGOs. Reflecting the current high interest in the topic many members of the press and national broadcasters squeezed into the conference room to listen to the NGOs’ plans.

In explaining the launch of the campaign the groups stated ‘despite recent controversies about providing food assistance to the North the fact of the matter is that North Korean citizens are in trouble and we cannot sit idly by without a response’. They went on to say ‘regardless of the political and military situation, it is urgent that we assist our Korean brothers and sisters at this pressing time.’

The three organizations highlighted the severity of the need for food assistance by quoting from the recently released FAO-WFP Joint Rapid Food Security Assessment report delivered after the UN teams visited the North for two weeks beginning in March. According to the report the North will fall short of meeting its food requirements by 1,360,000 tons this year and 40% of the population, 10.1 million people, is facing food shortages.



Below is the text of the appeal that the 3 groups read at the press conference.

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[National Appeal]

An appeal for participation in urgent food assistance for North Korean citizens

We come together here today to express that we cannot sit idly by any longer. We come together here today to say that we cannot remain a spectator as the North faces severe food shortages putting Korean lives in danger. It seemed last year, with the 4.27 Panmunjon Declaration and the September Pyongyang Declaration, that we were overcoming the wounds of division and that peace was being ushered onto the Korean peninsula.

However, after the US-DPRK summit in Hanoi, which had been preceded by much hope, the future of both US-DPRK and South-North relations has become unpredictable. We come together here today to transcend South-North political and military confrontation and appeal to the realization of the human right to a dignified life. We come together here today to pursue a broad coalition in support of food assistance for the future peace and healthy reunion of the Korean peninsula.

North Korean citizens are suffering from severe food shortages. According to the FAO and WFP joint report there are food shortages equating to 1.36 million tons and 10.1 million (40%) North Koreans are facing severe hunger.

Despite this, foreign countries are not considering providing support to North Korea, our own government, despite declaring they will provide food support, has made of yet no detailed plans on delivery. Eventually, it falls to us to help those in need in North Korea. Of course, the reality is that the practicalities involved mean it is not easy for us to extend this offering of help.

It is clear to us that regardless of the recent strains in the South-North political and military situation we cannot turn away from the millions of North Korean citizens facing difficulties because of their food security situation. There may be disagreements surrounding the provision of food assistance to the North, but those suffering are in urgent need of support.

Food assistance to the North becomes the twine that links to the peace process. It is the departure point for South and North coexisting in peace and the future of unification. It is the provision of a lifeline to those we will coexist with after unification.

It is for life and for peace, for Korean reconciliation and unification, for these things that we sincerely aspire for that we are pushing for urgent food assistance to the vulnerable in North Korea. We will convey your support through donations to the citizens of North Korea

Fellow citizens, we appeal to you. Participate with us in supporting those in the North through food assistance. Nothing is as important as saving and respecting a life. This principle precedes politics.

We appeal to our government. Become more flexible in your approach to food assistance to the North. The food assistance prepared by citizens for those in the North must not be allowed to be wasted, stacked up in warehouses. We are requesting that the government facilitates the deliverance of the food assistance prepared by civil society by cooperating and supporting export consignments and visits to the North. The government also needs to review carefully the renewal of food assistance to the North at government level. If direct government level assistance is problematic, international organizations or South Korean NGOs can be utilized to deliver.

We also appeal to international society. Our neighbors in the North are a part of our Korean peninsula. Is it not the basic principle of humanitarianism to share and lessen the pain of those in need regardless of whether they are your neighbors or not? Please support and join with the citizens of South Korea in their efforts to share the pain of citizens in the North.

We also appeal to the authorities in North Korea. Whilst the international situation is as difficult as ever and sanctions remain, there is no ‘us’ and ‘them’ when it comes to those making efforts to resolve the hunger of children, regardless of the political situation. Please actively cooperate with South Korean civil society’s efforts to provide food assistance.

We are aware of the concerns in our society regarding the diversion of humanitarian supplies and disputes regarding food assistance for North Korea. We strive to make our best efforts to increase the efficiency of assistance and transparency in distribution. Those citizens that respect life, long for peace and unification, members of civil society and religious believers, please participate together with us. Thank you.

2019.5. 14

 Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation

Korea NGO Council for Cooperation with North Korea 

Korean Conference of Religions for Peace