REDUCING SUFFERING AND POVERTY DISEASE IN KOREA

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 27, 16 July 1952, Page 2

REDUCING SUFFERING AND POVERTY DISEASE IN KOREA

In line with the interest of the United Nations in improving health and welfare standards of people throughout the world, the United Nations Command in Korea has been cond«cting programmes to reduce suffering and prevent disease among civilians and military personnel. These programmes have included refngees from North Korea and North Korean and Chinese Communist prisoners in U.N. hands.. In addition to feeding, elothing, and housing millions of Koreans, the U.N. is inoculating the civilian population of the Republic of Korea against diseases prevalent in that part of the world. This immunization programme extends to soldiers of the Republic of Korea and other nations taking part in the successful U.N. eflfort to repel the unprovoked North Korean and Chinese Communist aggression. Communist captives in U.N. prisoner-of-war camps also receive the best of medical and welfare care. The health and welfare activities of the United Nations in Korea have been open to international inspection at all times. After the Communists aggression in June 1950, the International Committee of the Red Cross, a neutral body, offered its services to both sides. The U.N. arcepted the offA* and gave the committee niembers full co-operation in inspecting its prisoner-of-war camps. In addition, committee members regularly have observed the U.N. treatment of civilian refugees in the Republic of Korea. The Communists, however, have refused the committee access to North Korea. Again and ^again, the committee has been deniecf permission to observe conditions *in North Korea, and to inspect camps where U.N. military personnel have been held prisoner to see that the captives receive adequate food, elothing, and medical attention.