THE KUKMIN DAILY

On January 17, the Eugene Bell Foundation (president: Stephen Linton) urged the Korean government to arrange for drugs and other medical supplies used in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, to be excluded from the UN Security Council’s sanctions targets.

“Government support is urgent, in order that medicines and other supplies for more than 1,000 North Korean patients may be sent without delay,” the Foundation said at a press conference held on this day at the National Assembly Building. “We are asking the government to send an official letter to the UN Security Council sanctions committee requesting exclusion of drugs and medical supplies from the list of sanctions targets.”

The Foundation also asked the government to subsidize treatment for 500 some multidrug-resistant TB patients in Hwanghae-Namdo, North Korea. “Recently we concluded a memo of understanding with the North Korean Health Ministry for a model project to treat patients with multidrug-resistant TB in the Hwanghae-Namdo region,” the Foundation said. It said the estimated cost of the project is about 2.7 billion won. The money will be used to cover the costs of medicines, nutritional foods and hospital wards for 500 multidrug-resistant TB patients over an 18-month period.

Further, the Foundation requested the government’s cooperation in opening an exclusive roadway for humanitarian support to North Korea. President Stephen Linton said, “A permanent South-North road is needed for the steady implementation of humanitarian work for the North; moreover, it will become an opportunity to enhance the government’s new vision for the Korean peninsula.”

Reporter Yang Minkyeong (grieg@kmib.co.kr), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)
Photo by intern reporter Shin Hyeon Ga


Original Article in Korean:
“北 지원 결핵약 대북제재 대상서 제외해야”: “정부가 유엔에 공식 서한을” 유진벨재단, 적극 도움 촉구


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