VATICAN CHARITY COMBATS HARSH CONDITIONS IN NORTH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000290

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EAP/K, EUR/WE (MENNUTI)

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 010/02

ROME PLS PASS FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON EAID EAGR KN VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN CHARITY COMBATS HARSH CONDITIONS IN NORTH
KOREA

REF: 01 VATICAN 1244

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SUMMARY
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1. VATICAN NGO, CARITAS HONG KONG, COORDINATES THE
VATICAN'S RELIEF EFFORTS IN NORTH KOREA. THE ORGANIZATION
HAS A SOLID WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DPRK GOVERNMENT.
CARITAS REPORTS IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FOOD SITUATION AFTER
MASSIVE INPUTS FROM INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING
THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, CARITAS
PROVIDED MORE THAN 20 MILLION DOLLARS OF FOOD, AGRICULTURAL
AND DEVELOPMENT AID. ACCORDING TO CARITAS, NORTH KOREA'S
GOVERNMENT HAS PULLED BACK SOMEWHAT FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
OUTSIDE WORLD, IN PARTICULAR THE U.S. AND SOUTH KOREA, AND
HAS REDUCED ITS INTERNAL PROPAGANDA RHETORIC. CARITAS IS
COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING AN ACTIVE PRESENCE IN NORTH KOREA.
END SUMMARY.

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SITUATION UP-DATE
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2. EMBASSY OFFICERS RECEIVED A SITUATION UPDATE JANUARY 10
FROM CARITAS' NORTH KOREAN AID COORDINATOR KATHI ZELLWEGER
WHO LAST VISITED THE DPRK IN NOVEMBER 2001, HER FIFTH ENTRY
FOR THAT YEAR. ACCORDING TO ZELLWEGER, "PEOPLE ARE LIVING ON
THE EDGE" - THE POPULATION HAS ENOUGH FOOD TO SURVIVE BUT
NOT ENOUGH TO LEAD A HEALTHY LIFE. FOOD SHORTAGES ARE
PARTICULARLY ACUTE IN THE EASTERN COASTAL DISTRICTS WHERE
ARABLE LAND IS AT A MINIMUM AND URBAN-BASED NORTH KOREANS DO
NOT HAVE ACCESS TO PLOTS OF LAND FOR SUBSISTENCE GARDENING.
CARITAS HONG KONG COORDINATES THE PROVISION OF FOOD INPUTS
AND BASIC HEALTH CARE AT THE GRASS ROOTS LEVEL. (NOTE:
CARITAS IS PART OF A FOOD AID LIAISON UNIT OPERATING OUT OF
PYONGYANG. THE UNIT ALSO INCLUDES THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM.
END NOTE). ZELLWEGER NOTED THAT NORTH KOREAN CHILDREN ARE
STUNTED - A CLEAR SIGN OF CHRONIC MALNUTRITION. ZELLWEGER
SAYS MASSIVE FOOD AID - ONE MILLION TONS IN 2001 - HAS HAD
AN IMPACT FOR THE BETTER AND NO DEVASTATING FAMINE IS
ENVISAGED.

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ON THE POLITICAL SCENE
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3. ON THE POLITICAL SCENE, ZELLWEGER HAS NOTICED A
REDUCTION IN PROPAGANDA RHETORIC COMING FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
SHE EXPECTS THE SIXTIETH BIRTHDAY OF THE "BELOVED LEADER" TO
BE CELEBRATED BY AN INCREASE IN FOOD RATIONS AND PERHAPS BY
AN AMNESTY FOR CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PRISONERS. ZELLWEGER
OPINED THAT EXPECTATIONS RESULTING FROM THE "SUNSHINE
SUMMIT" WERE OVER OPTIMISTIC. SHE BELIEVES FAMILY REUNIONS
NEED TO BE REVIVED AS THE OLDER GENERATION IS DYING OUT AND
YOUNGER SOUTH KOREANS ARE LOSING THEIR "LINKS" TO THE DPRK.
ACCORDING TO ZELLWEGER, THE DPRK IS "BACKING AWAY" FROM
SOUTH KOREA AND THE U.S. SHE CONSIDERS THE UP-COMING WORLD
SOCCER CUP MEDIA COVERAGE MAY HAVE A POSITIVE SPIN OFF
REFOCUSING PUBLIC ATTENTION TO NORTH KOREA'S FOOD SHORTAGES
AND RELATED ISSUES. ZELLWEGER SAYS PROTRACTED RELIEF
OPERATIONS ARE NOT ATTRACTIVE TO POTENTIAL DONORS.

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CARITAS PROJECTS
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4. CARITAS SPONSORED PROJECTS IN NORTH KOREA INCLUDE A
CHILDREN'S CLOTHING FACTORY PROVIDING WORK FOR WOMEN WHOSE
SALARIES ARE PAID IN CASH AND FOOD. CARITAS ALSO SUPPORTS
FISH FARMING - WORKING TO ENCOURAGE PRODUCTION INCREASES AND
COOPERATIVE FARMS. CARITAS PROVIDES "KITS" TO FARMS
CONTAINING TOOLS, SEEDS, MECHANICAL PARTS, FERTILIZERS AND
PLASTIC SHEETING. ZELLWEGER SAID SOME OF THE COOPERATIVES
HAVE A "FREEDOM" TO PLANT WHAT THEY WANT AND SO PRODUCE CASH
CROPS SUCH AS TOBACCO. THE MONEY RAISED FROM CASH CROPS IS
USED TO BUY OTHER ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS. AS WELL AS
PROVIDING FOOD AID TO THE MOST VULNERABLE - WOMEN, CHILDREN,
THE ELDERLY - CARITAS PROVIDES BASIC HEALTH CARE KITS.
ZELLWEGER SAID THE HEALTH SYSTEM IS "DISMAL" AND THE ACUTE
LACK OF SUPPLIES IS FRUSTRATING MEDICAL PERSONNEL. THE
CARITAS HEALTH CARE KITS PROVIDE BASIC EQUIPMENT TO VILLAGE
HOSPITALS AND CLINICS AS WELL AS A STABLE SUPPLY OF DRUGS -
AT LEAST TWELVE MONTHS. (NOTE: ZELLWEGER SAID THE WHO HAS AN
OFFICE IN PYONGYANG BUT THAT IT IS "DESPERATELY UNDER-
FUNDED." END NOTE).


5. AN INDEPENDENT FIVE-YEAR REVIEW OF THEIR OPERATIONS
CONDUCTED IN NOVEMBER 2001 RESULTED IN CARITAS COMMITTING TO
STAY IN NORTH KOREA FOR THE LONG HAUL, HAVING ALREADY
PROVIDED SOME 23 MILLION DOLLARS OF AID. FUTURE AID
STRATEGIES WILL BUILD ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PAST SIX
YEARS WITH FOOD AID, AGRICULTURE AND HEALTH AS THE MAIN
SECTORS. THE MAIN GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS WILL BE ON THE EAST
COAST PROVINCES.

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COMMENT
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6. ZELLWEGER IS A USEFUL EMBASSY CONTACT AS HER REGULAR
SOJOURNS INTO NORTH KOREA PROVIDE US WITH A GOOD ASSESSMENT
OF THE HUMANITARIAN AND, TO A LESSER EXTENT, POLITICAL
SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY. ZELLWEGER WILL BE IN WASHINGTON IN
THE SPRING AND POST HOPES TO FACILITATE MEETINGS FOR HER
WITH STATE AND NGO OFFICIALS. SHE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN
MEETING WITH CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES, CARITAS' U.S. BRANCH.
END COMMENT.

NICHOLSON