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Letter
to the Administration on Food Aid for North Korea
The following
sign-on letter on food aid for North Korea was also sent to USAID Administrator
Andrew Natsios and Special Envoy for Negotiations with DPRK Ambassador
Charles Pritchard.
January 15, 2003
James Kelly
Assistant Secretary of State
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Department of State
2201 C Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20520
Dear Mr. Kelly:
As representatives of American
private voluntary organizations working in North Korea, or on North Korea
policy, we commend the stance of this Administration, which has been to
honor President Ronald Reagan's maxim that "a hungry child knows
no politics." We believe the past aid contributed by the U.S. has
made a difference in the lives of millions of North Koreans, particularly
children and nursing and pregnant women.
In June of 2002, the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a "baseline"
commitment of 155,000 metric tons for the year 2002. USAID noted that
additional contributions might be considered if there is "verifiable
progress" in monitoring and access, and if a countrywide nutritional
survey is implemented according to international standards.
We share U.S. government concerns
about monitoring and access. We note that both the WFP and NGOs have made
some progress over the last several years in improving our relationships
and cooperation with North Korean representatives. We believe that with
continued engagement and firm negotiations, further progress will be possible,
such as increased access, random visits, the provision by the DPRK of
a list of all recipient institutions, and the routine inclusion of fluent
Korean speakers on monitoring teams.
We are concerned that without
a strong USG emphasis on negotiating with North Korea regarding the measures
necessary for the U.S. to renew humanitarian assistance, essential food
will not be donated to the DPRK. We remain concerned about the potential
impact on North Korean citizens if the international donor community is
unable to ensure the necessary food goes to the DPRK and reaches the most
vulnerable.
A nutritional survey took place
from October 7-25, jointly conducted by the WFP and UNICEF, with twenty
research teams deployed in the field, supported by ten data entry teams
and ten logistics teams. Access to the inaccessible counties was not granted
for the survey. However, the 2002 survey shows substantial improvements
in comparison with the 1998 nutritional survey. The survey samples increased
in size by two-thirds, there was improved international technical assistance
and monitoring of the sampling procedures, and disaggregated data will
allow analysis of results from individual provinces.
These survey results will be available later this month, providing the
U.S. and the international community with an opportunity to renew dialogue
both on monitoring concerns, and consider necessary food aid from the
US and other donor countries to ensure life-saving levels are maintained.
We strongly recommend that such dialogue not be put on hold. Time is running
out for the most vulnerable in North Korea. Adhering to the belief that
food aid should not be political, we call for a means of quickly and efficiently
addressing monitoring concerns in such a way that ensures no loss of life.
Sincerely,
Adventist Development and Relief Agency International
American Friends Service Committee
AmeriCares
Baptist World Aid
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Holt International Children's Services
Institute for Strategic Reconciliation
The International Center
International Rescue Committee
Korean American Sharing Movement
Mennonite Central Committee
Mercy Corps
Operation USA
Refugees International
World Vision
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