Lutherans Aid with Food Shipments to North Korea

CHURCHES SHIP FOOD TO NORTH KOREA

The famine situation in North Korea continues to deteriorate,
according to Action by Churches Together (ACT).  Food stocks in
the country have almost been completely depleted.  Many people
are now resorting to eating grass, tree bark, roots and a few
dried vegetables.  ACT reports that children are dying of
malnutrition in the food crisis.  ACT is a worldwide network of
churches, including the Lutheran World Federation, meeting human
need through coordinated emergency response.  There is an urgent
need to increase emergency food aid in order to stave off further
massive starvation, ACT said.  ACT purchased and shipped 500
metric tons of barley seeds in February that arrived in time for
the spring planting season and was immediately distributed
throughout North Korea.  ACT shipped 2,000 metric tons of rice to
North Korea at the end of March.  The rice will benefit some
444,400 people.  Through the North Korean Mission in China, ACT
purchased 10 metric tons of spinach seeds for shipment to North
Korea.  Erich Weingartner is the international officer who will
represent the organizations providing assistance, ACT reported.
ACT has issued an appeal for $2.1 million. The Lutheran World
Federation is a worldwide communion of 122 member churches,
including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html