U.N. envoy says U.S. food donation keeps aid flowing
to North Korea
Sun Mar 16, 4:41 AM ET
BEIJING - A U.N. envoy bound for North Korea (news -
web sites) said Sunday that the United States is
promising to send 40,000 tons of food immediately for
the hungry nation.
Maurice Strong, a Canadian aide to Secretary General
Kofi Annan (news - web sites), was en route to
Pyongyang as part of U.N. efforts to mediate in a
standoff over the North's nuclear program.
His announcement of new aid � part of a U.S.
commitment of 100,000 tons of food � follows warnings
by aid agencies that foreign donations have dropped
off sharply, jeopardizing programs that feed millions
of North Koreans.
Washington is one of the North's biggest aid donors.
"In the next few months, the humanitarian assistance
will keep going," said Strong, who was to go to
Pyongyang on Tuesday. "Beyond that, there is still a
lot of uncertainty, a lot of doubt, and so we have to
just keep working at it."
Strong said he had information for North Korean
officials after a meeting in Washington with U.S.
officials last week, but he wouldn't give any details.
Aid agencies have appealed to donors to put aside
unease over helping the North during the crisis over
its nuclear program and missile tests.
"The important thing is that the humanitarian aid
continues while the attempts to resolve the larger
nuclear and nuclear-related issues continue," Strong
said.
The World Food Program, a U.N. agency, has said that
even with the American donation, its programs in North
Korea will run out of food in June.
The U.N. children's agency, UNICEF (news - web sites),
said last week that its clinics in the North will run
out of medicines next month and other essential
supplies in coming months.
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Your enemy is not surrounding your country � your enemy is ruling your
country. And the day he and his regime are removed from power will be
the day of your liberation." -George W. Bush 1/29/03
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