ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - With optimism and enthusiasm Caritas South Korea prepares to shoulder responsibility for cooperation programmes in north Korea

Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - “We are very busy at the Caritas South Korea offices in Seoul”, says Stella Koh, head of International Cooperation at Caritas Korea. Religious, laity, volunteers, are preparing to take over cooperation responsibility for aid programmes in North Korea on behalf of Caritas Internationalis, starting January 2007. Until now Caritas Hong Kong was in charge of co-ordinating humanitarian aid to the north Korea affected by dire poverty, and scarcity of food of healthcare and health structures.
Augustine Koo has been appointed Caritas Korea project director. He will take over the work of Kathi Zellweger Caritas Hong Kong, in charge of cooperation for N. Korea for the past ten years in which she has made at least 50 missions to the north. “My experience with Caritas Hong Kong enriched me at the human, social and professional level. I will continue to be involved with the people of N. Korea in my new job with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation as directress of the Agency’s office in Pyongyang”, Ms Zellweger told Fides.
To plan humanitarian aid for 2007 a delegation of Caritas Korea has had two meetings with N. Korean authorities and established contact with the National Committee for Economic Cooperation in North Korea. Other meetings are planned in the coming months. Fr Paul Jeremiah Hwang Yong-yeon, Caritas Korea general director, said the delegation is optimistic and enthusiastic at the opportunity to help brothers and sisters in the north of the country. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/9/2006 righe: 26 parole: 265)