Last week, I met up with some relief workers monitoring the food distribution in the DPRK. They are on their first set of well-deserved R&R after about 7 weeks of field work. In general, they report good co-operation with their North Korean counterparts, although they acknowledge that they are working under difficult circumstances and that they have very little control over the political whirlwinds swirling around them.
I found a new appreciation for what they do, as they explained to me the level of detail in paperwork and record keeping that has to be accounted for. From the port, to the regional distribution point, to the local schools, to the homes. For the most part, they are riding on top of the existing socialist food ticket distribution system, but the spot checks that are allowed to happen at the lowest level seem exceptional for DPRK. After checking the attendance and distribution records for a school, if children are listed as absent or unable to receive their food rations, the monitors have asked and been permitted to visit the families. But, as reported before, the relief workers have to get one week prior approval.
One person from the US mentioned a little boy who literally froze motionless as the relief worker walked by, smiled and waved. Not only was this the first caucasian this boy had ever seen in real life, but a representative from America - a country he was taught to hate.
The Christian food monitors introduce themselves as bringing food and help from the people of America and all the food shipments have the USAID logo on each bag.
In addition to the UN World Food Program, the following organizations are currently involved with the distribution of food aid in the DPRK: Mercy Corps, Word Vision, Samaritan’s Purse, Global Resource Services, and Christian Friends of Korea.
As winter nears, traveling the icy and mountainous roads will become more difficult. According to the aid workers, there will need to be a balance with providing enough of a food supply buffer at the distribution centers and having adequate monitoring.
We wish them well and good health during the next couple months.
