ROME, Nov. 2, 00 (CWNews.com/Fides) - Duncan MacLaren, Caritas International secretary general, will visit North Korea next week as part of an Asian tour that includes stops in Hong Kong, Macau, and China.
Over the past five years, Caritas International, a network of 154 Catholic relief, development, and social service organizations, has raised more than $20 million to help combat hunger in North Korea. MacLaren will visit Pyongyang from November 7 to 14 to tour Caritas projects underway in order to demonstrate the organization's commitment to the people of North Korea. "My trip to North Korea," MacLaren said, "hopefully will result in a deepened commitment from the Caritas Confederation to continue its solidarity at an exciting time in Korea's history."
Caritas has funded humanitarian projects in North Korea since 1995 when massive flooding across the country destroyed the local economy and led to widespread famine. An estimated two million people lost their lives as a result of the tragedy. "Since then, we have raised over $20 million as a sign of our solidarity with a country still plagued by hunger," said MacLaren. The aid Caritas members provide is not merely financial the McLaren said: "Partnership is more than money. It also requires face to face meetings in order to create an environment of mutual trust and understanding, where we learn from each other."
Caritas International is present in North Korea through its member organization Caritas Hong Kong. Its current operating budget of $3.6 million covers projects in the provinces of Kangwon, South Hamgyon, North Hamgyon, and the areas along the eastern coast where 6.5 million people live. Caritas funds go to support nurseries, hospitals, schools, and local feeding programs. Pope John Paul II, though the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, was among the first to donate money to strengthen these programs.
A major part of Caritas funds-- $1.5 million-- are earmarked for food needs. Almost half a million dollars go toward the purchase of materials and tools for agricultural production (tractors, plastic sheeting, and seeds) and $600,000 is spent on medicines and health care supplies. The remainder of the annual budget is used to help orphanages, day-care centers, and schools.
While Caritas is working the strengthen its commitment to the people of North Korea, over the past few years other humanitarian organizations have pulled out of the country due to deteriorating relations with the government. After Medecins san Frontieres left in 1998, the English charity Oxfam packed up in December of 1999, and the French organization, Action Contre La Faim and the US charity Care threatened to leave this past June. According to some, with the new openness of the Pyongang government, this trend could soon reverse itself.
CWN - Catholic World News
2. november 2000