Being named in 2002 as one of the countries in the so-called axis of evil by the US president, George W Bush, brought about an immediate political and diplomatic shift in DPRK's relationship with the US and its neighbors. Yet, behind the political posturing and brinkmanship being played out on the world's stage, lies the harsh reality of a country still reliant on food aid from the UN's World Food Program and other international humanitarian agencies. After years of crop failures, disastrous weather and an economy that is at best described as fragile and embattled, millions of North Koreans today rely on this food to stay alive.

Threats of nuclear re-armament by the DPRK government has only increased the isolation of this country, which is known as the most secretive in the world. However, stopping humanitarian aid will not break the political stalemate - rather, it will leave millions of people in a situation where they could easily slip back into a state of crisis.

This appeal describes the continued response to the vulnerable people of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) by the ACT Alliance, through its co-ordinating agency Diakonie Emergency Aid (DEA).

Through the already existing network of implementing partners ACT/DEA will support Rehabilitation Programmes in the areas of agriculture and health. Relief assistance will still be available in case of new disasters and for the most vulnerable sections of the population.

It should be noted that also other ACT Members are providing bilateral assistance to the people of the DPRK.

Project Completion Date:

31 March 2004

Total Appeal Target(s): 835,000

Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.: 300,000

Balance Requested from ACT Network: 535,000

Signed by:
Thor-Arne Prois, ACT Director
Elizabeth Ferris, Co-ordinator, Diakonia & Solidarity, World Council of Churches
Robert Granke, Director, Department for World Service, Lutheran World Federation

For full details of proposals and budgets, please click below to download a PDF file of the entire Appeal.

North Korea - DPRK Relief & Rehabilitation - ASKP31 (file size: 52 Kb)

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