The Food Crisis Continues in North Korea

But we can help the people help themselves

Food stocks depleted, North Korean people now entirely reliant on international help Thousands dead, millions malnourished, and future generations threatened Tuberculosis and intestinal diseases widespread

Workers receive emergency food in exchange for labor clearing flood-damaged fields. (WFP/Tom Haskell, 1997)

A series of natural disasters--floods, drought, a typhoon--have struck North Korea in the last three years. The current food stocks have run dry, and the population must rely on foreign aid and imports until the October harvest. Compounding this dire situation is the strict U.S. trade embargo that has made it difficult for farms to obtain the supplies and equipment they need to function.

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) has promoted dialogue and reconciliation with the North Korean people for more than fifteen years. With our partners, we have provided $630,000 in food relief, agricultural support and other material aid since 1995. Now we are focusing on longer-term solutions, on helping the North Koreans help themselves.

How you can help

Make a contribution to the AFSC Korea Relief Fund. Money donated to AFSC is used to provide fertilizer, seed, and other agricultural material for farmers. We work directly with cooperative farms, which produce food for the whole country. The value of your dollars will literally grow as the harvest comes in and the people are again able to take care of themselves.

A little help from you will help so many:

• $250 will buy barley seed to feed 100 people for one year
• $125 will buy fertilizer to produce five extra tons of rice
• $60 will buy wheat seeds to plant 2.5 acres of land
• $35 will purchase plastic sheeting to make earlier planting possible

Please make checks payable to AFSC. Gifts are tax-deductible.

Print and mail the form below

American Friends Service Committee    Korea Relief Fund
1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Call toll free 1-888-588-AFSC    afscinfo@afsc.org

Name ___________________________________
Address _________________________________
City ___________________ State ____ Zip _________
Credit Card No. _____________________________
Exp. Date ___________________________________