1997

11th August 1997
Caritas Launches Appeal for North Korean Famine Victims
Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church's official development and overseas aid agency, has launched a national appeal for victims of North Korea's worsening famine.

In the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, Bishop Michael Malone and Caritas Diocesan Director, Mrs Patricia Banister, are seeking public support for this appeal.

Mrs Banister said the collapse of North Korea's maize crop through drought had greatly worsened an already critical situation and heightened the need for international action.

"The number of deaths caused by starvation is increasing and the death rate is expected to increase dramatically in coming months unless there is a massive influx of foreign aid," Mrs Banister said.

"Caritas International's representative for North Korea reports that around a quarter of the children in nurseries she visited showed signs of advanced wasting. Nationally, 800,000 children are regarded as malnourished.

"Food is either not available or in very short supply in many outlets and the summer maize crop, which has now failed due to drought, was expected to be the major source of food for the coming winter."

Since February, the Caritas International network has combined to ship 10,100 tonnes of rice, 13,500 tonnes of wheat and 90 tonnes of canned beef into North Korea for distribution through the World Food Program.

Caritas Australia, which contributed funds to Caritas International's recent emergency food shipments of maize and rice, is now seeking public support for its contribution to the latest response to the North Korea famine. Caritas International is seeking to raise A$5.4 million from around the world in the coming fortnight.

Donations to Caritas Australia's appeal for North Korea can be sent to PO Box 439R Rutherford or to the national donation hotline 1800 024 413.

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