ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Caritas South Korea and north Korean authorities hold first meeting to plan humanitarian AID in 2007

Saturday, 16 September 2006

Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - Members of Caritas South Korea had a first meeting with authorities of North Korea to make contact with regard to the flow of humanitarian aid South-North. The meeting is part of a North Korea Aid Programme, elaborated by Caritas Internationalis which for over a decade coordinated humanitarian aid to the North through Caritas Hong Kong. From this year this job has been taken over by Caritas South Korea which as official referent will be in constant contact with representatives of Pyongyang, the National Committee for Economic Cooperation in N. Korea.
The meeting served to discuss guidelines for the new Caritas aid programme to start in 2007 in order to guarantee continuity in humanitarian aid especially to the more vulnerable people, pregnant mothers with small babies, children, old people and orphans.
The representatives from North Korea reported on damage caused by recent floods. Rev Paul Jeremiah Hwang Yong-yeon, national director of Caritas South Korea was pleased with the first meeting and said it will be followed by another meeting at the end of the month.
A few months ago Caritas South Korea held a national congress attended by Caritas representatives from 15 different dioceses who vowed to continue their service to the poor, the marginalised and migrants in particular many people in north Korea, at least 2 million, suffering from serious food shortage.
The local Catholic Church in South Korea is looking with hope and enthusiasm for the Catholic community in the north, following many positive signs which may herald a new season of dialogue and good relations with the north Korea authorities. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 16/9/2006 Righe: 28 Parole: 281)


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