wfn.org | Interfaith Delegation to North Korea

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the 
USA
Contact: Carol Fouke, NCC News, 212-870-2252
Internet: carolf@ncccusa.org

NCC10/22/97      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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EDITOR'S NOTE:  This media advisory/news story is 
being released simultaneously by the Interfaith 
Hunger Appeal's member organizations.
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INTERFAITH DELEGATION TO VISIT NORTH KOREA

 NEW YORK, Oct. 22 ---- A high level interfaith 
delegation will visit North Korea from November 4 to 
November 8 to express solidarity with the people of 
that country, many of whom are suffering from 
famine, and to bring relief supplies.

 The delegation represents members of the 
Interfaith Hunger Appeal (IHA): Catholic Relief 
Services, Church World Service, Lutheran World 
Relief and The American Jewish Joint Distribution 
Committee (JDC). 

"The Interfaith Hunger Appeal is a partnership of 
peoples and agencies rooted in faith, working to 
promote the reconciliation of all peoples of the 
earth and freedom from hunger around the world," 
said Kenneth F. Hackett, President of the Board of 
Directors of IHA and Executive Director of 
Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services.

 "This visit will show the concern of the 
Jewish, Protestant and Roman Catholic communities in 
the United States for the severe food shortages 
besetting our Korean brothers and sisters," said 
Hackett, who will lead the delegation to North 
Korea.

 The IHA delegation will bring much needed 
dietary supplements to North Korea. IHA is to donate 
$100,000 worth of multi-vitamins and iron-mineral 
supplements which will go to children at nurseries 
and kindergartens and to pregnant and lactating 
women.

 Over the past three years, IHA members have 
contributed a combined total of almost $2.6 million 
in humanitarian assistance to North Korea, including 
food, seeds, medicines, water purification tablets, 
clothing and blankets.

 The IHA delegation includes: Most Rev. John H. 
Ricard, Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee and 
President of the Board of Directors of Catholic 
Relief Services; Rabbi Alexander Schindler, 
Immediate Past President of the Union of American 
Hebrew Congregations, representing The American 
Jewish Joint Distribution Committee; Bishop Howard 
Ernest Wennes, Bishop of Grand Canyon Synod, 
representing Lutheran World Relief; and Victor Hsu, 
Director, East Asia and the Pacific Program, Church 
World Service. The Korean Christians Federation 
(KCF) and the Catholic Association through the KCF 
is to host the delegation.

 Floods, drought and typhoons over the past 
three years have created extreme food shortages in 
North Korea. With severe crop damage again this year 
due to natural disaster, the United Nation's World 
Food Program estimates North Korea needs an 
additional 2 million to 2.5 million tons of food 
aid. "By visiting North Korea, the Interfaith Hunger 
Appeal wishes to make the plight of Koreans known to 
Americans of all faiths," said Hackett.

 Formed in 1977, the goals of Interfaith Hunger 
Appeal are: 

* to serve as an example to our communities and the 
world of interfaith collaboration.
* to combat hunger and poverty abroad through our 
partner agencies, and at home through education and 
awareness.
* to educate about peace and reconciliation in the 
international context.
* to facilitate agency cooperation on domestic 
outreach.

 Catholic Relief Services is the official 
overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. 
Catholic community.

 Church World Service is the relief, development 
and refugee assistance ministry of the National 
Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., the 
nation_s leading ecumenical organization with 33 
Protestant and Orthodox member denominations 
comprising 52 million Christians.

Lutheran World Relief works in relief and 
development on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran 
Church in America and The Lutheran Church -- 
Missouri Synod.

JDC is the overseas arm of the American Jewish 
community, working to meet Jewish needs around the 
globe through rescue, relief and reconstruction. 
Through its International Development Program, JDC 
also conducts international development and 
emergency relief efforts that aid people in need on 
a non-sectarian basis. The number of people aided by 
the JDC since its inception in 1914 reaches into the 
millions.

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