December 18, 1995
Web posted at: 10:45 p.m. EST (0345 GMT)
From Correspondent Andrea Koppel
PYONGYANG, North Korea (CNN) -- It isn't often the Red Cross sends a humanitarian mission to a country for the first time. But then again, it was the first time North Korea had ever asked for help.
And the need is great. Heavy flooding last August left over 100,000 families homeless, a crushing blow for an economy which was in dire straits before the floods.
"At present our rations from the cooperative farm have been reduced by half," explained Kim Jong Ok. "With this food (from the Red Cross) we can maintain our life but I'm afraid that, in the future, lack of food will be a problem."
"I lost everything, my property and food," said Ho Song Sun. "At that time, I was thinking, will we starve?"
For the immediate future, the answer is no, thanks to humanitarian donations from overseas. The Red Cross and other aid organizations are helping tens of thousands of people all over North Korea. They're getting food, blankets, warm clothing, building materials and -- most importantly -- rice.
"Rice for Koreans is much more than a staple food," said Dr. Piero Calvi Parisetti, who heads up the North Korean operation for the International Federation of the Red Cross. "I was told repeatedly that when people get sick, doctors prescribe rice as a cure. Rice makes up more than 75 percent of the calorie intake of the average Korean family." (111K AIFF sound or 111K WAV sound)
According to Parisetti, without more aid -- more rice -- there is a strong risk there will be major malnutrition in North Korea in the next month. But the appeal for help, which began in September, is still close to $2 million short.
For nearly 50 years, North Korea deliberately isolated itself from the rest of the world. Parisetti said that be fears the country's past isolationism is affecting the willingness of other countries to offer help.
"It makes me sick," he said. "Because I go to places, I talk to people, I understand what the needs really are. It would be really nice if politics would not play any role in the humanitarian business." (187K AIFF sound or 187K WAV sound)
Before the death of absolute ruler Kim Il Sung, it would have been unthinkable for this government to appeal for help. But now that aid is trickling in, it could be a sign that the door to the hermit kingdom is at last opening, if only a crack.
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