PORTLAND, Ore. - Mercy Corps is rushing relief to rain-soaked North Korea, where torrential downpours have buried large areas of the country. Since August 7, hundreds have been killed, more than 30,000 houses have been destroyed, and well over 300,000 people have been displaced.
The global humanitarian agency will provide nearly $450,000 worth of food, medicine, clothes and basic tools to start the long process of clean-up and recovery like shovels, gloves, plastic buckets and soap. Mercy Corps is working with local representatives to identify and respond to the most urgent needs
"Over the last decade, Mercy Corps has developed a relationship of trust and respect with the North Korean people," said Nancy Lindborg, Mercy Corps' president, who has visited North Korea seven times since the late 1990's. "At this critical time, we want to reach out to families who are suffering huge losses as a result of flooding."
Heavy rain continues unabated, destroying hundreds of public buildings, washing out more than 500 bridges and ruining numerous railway lines. There are reports of widespread power and telecommunications outages. The flooding has also jeopardized North Korea's already-fragile agricultural capacity, reportedly inundating or washing away at least 11 percent of farmland and spoiling up to 25 percent of current rice and corn crops - sparking fears of widespread food shortages. The agency is assessing its next steps to assist relief and rebuilding efforts.
Mercy Corps has worked with vulnerable North Korean families and communities since 1996, striving to help meet health and nutritional needs as well as collaborating on long-term agricultural and economic solutions. The organization's co-founder, Ells Culver, reached out to the North Korean people after the country suffered years of drought, flooding and food shortages. That diplomacy has led to an extraordinary partnership that includes farmer exchanges between North Korea and the United States' Pacific Northwest. Over the course of more than 20 visits to North Korea, Culver repeatedly demonstrated his belief that caring assistance would lead to positive change.
The agency has long been at the forefront of efforts to bring reconciliation and mutual understanding to the sometimes-contentious relationship between North Korea and the United States. Through the East Asia Advisory Committee and National Committee for North Korea, Mercy Corps is bringing together various stakeholders to discuss ideas for collaboration.
HOW TO HELP:
Mercy Corps
North Korea Floods
Dept. NR
PO Box 2669
Portland OR 97208
www.mercycorps.org
1-800-852-2100
Mercy Corps works amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against nearly impossible odds. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided $1.3 billion in assistance to people in 100 nations. Supported by headquarters offices in North America, Europe and Asia, the agency's unified global programs employ 3,400 staff worldwide and reach nearly 14.4 million people in more than 35 countries. For more information, visit www.mercycorps.org.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
