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Situation Report: North Korea
Good
Friends: Centre for Peace, Human Rights and Refugees
North Korea
August 31, 2006
Kkotjebis in South Hamgyung Province are crowding to Danchun
As the effects of the flood damages worsens, it is more difficult for Kkotjebis to live since railway lines are still unrepaired, many of them are crowding in the city of Danchun. They used to reside around in the rural town and live on vegetables such as cucumbers, potatoes and tomatoes in the field, but after the flood, they could no longer eat as they used to due to damages that the flood caused, thus, coming out to cities. Danchun has a metal refinery that refines zinc, lead and gold that Kkotjebi would steal minerals in the refinery factory, where they usually gang up to obtain 50-60kg and sell it by 500won per kilogram of minerals. There are about 8-10groups of these Kkotjebis.
Kkotjebi in Haeju, live under most difficult condition
Haeju is the capital city of the South Hwanghae Province and the disparity between the poor and the rich are great and the lives of the ordinary people are quite harsh. It used to be ‘Town of Fish and Rice' that the price of rice was lower than other regions, which the highest price of rice on the market was up to 700won per kilogram. However, since the Public Distribution System(PDS) is so disruptive and the market prices are extremely expensive so most people are finding it difficult to make living. Chronic shortage of electricity of the cement factory with self-generator stopped working while seafood like clams are monopolised by the Department of Exports and sent to the Chinese ships with refrigeration that would be exported to earn foreign currency, hence, the city of Haeju fell to a city with no particular source of income. Transportation is also of a problem, which the traders from outside the city avoid coming to Haeju. Kkotjebi are the most marginalised group of people in North Korea nation-wide, but the Kkotjebi in Haeju are in the most difficult situation. Since there are many Kkotjebi without shoes, with their hands and feet all scared and swollen – over 50 Kkotjebi kids are unbearbly malnorished they are almost on the verge of dying. The South Hwanghae Province is operating the welfare program for these Kkotjebi, but
Elderlies are Abused Even in Elderly Homes
A large number of Elderly people who have devoted their lives in war for the country or are retired from construction sites, jobs, or the army live in the Elderly homes. They reside in such places mainly because they do not have children to look after them or to escape from their children's disdainful treatment. Although they do not have any other places to go, only a few of them remain for a longterm since the Elderly home is shabby and insufficient food. Only 150g of maize, cabbage, and salt soup is being provided. Not surprisingly, the Elderly people often complain about hunger.
Elderly men would work to grow maize, millet and vegetables. The original purpose was to ensure the elderly people's food, but the staffs take most of the crops and the rest are distributed to the elderlies on national holidays and fesitive seasons. The level of labour on the crops is too tough for the elderly people. Some of the staff throws insulting words and cut down meals arguing that the Elderly men do not work properly. A portion of Elderly people who could not bear such treatment and left the Elderly homes becomes Kkotjebi. They wander through the city and live by begging in front of goods stall, markets or food stalls.
These older Kkotjebis are on the increase in Chungjin also. Areas around restaurants and stalls on riversides are always crowded with Kkotjebis and aged Kkotjebis who left the Elderly homes. Deserted children due to their parents' divorce, aged people who escaped from their children's mistreatment, people without any family live as Kkotjebi for various reasons. They usually wander places such as city markets, songpyung, Soonam, Rana stations, or suburban farming villages, begging or stealing for survival. The youngsters do not bear more than two days in the Relief Institution. They run away and become Kkotjebi again. 'Living inside the Relief Institution means hunger and tough labor,' they say. They children live on leftovers from the drinkery customers and sleep on the sandy riverbank, ash dumps, or on the grass.
Kkotjebis in Sariwon
They even say 'you might loose your nose in broad daylight' in Sariwon. It is because there are too many Kkotjebi and thieves. Young Kkotjebi gather in groups of 13 - 15 people in the market. Their appearance is very miserable. They are in bare feet with shaggy clothes, or carelessly dressed with clothes too big or too small. There is a Relief Institution also here in Sariwon, but they run out sooner or later because of hunger. Despite the villagers see children living improperly at the age when they should go to school, they cannot take care due to their own suffering matters.
A 9-year-old girl from North Pyongan provinces say that when she was 5 years old, her father left her in front of Sariwon station as he remarried. Ever since then, she begged or helped women selling foodstuff to live on. In the summer, she sleeps anywhere, in winter, she secretly hides into places with boiler, willingly swallowing the insults and curses. Another child, a 12-yeared-boy, left his house as it became difficult to eat after his father died. He lives on begging and theft, usually sleeping under bridges or parks. These young Kkotjebi and begging elderly men are easily seen at the Sariwon station.
Immediate Medical Measures Needed at Tuberculosis Wards
Patients are dying out every month from the Tuberculosis(TB) ward where no particular medical measure is available. Patients' family should provide the food and medicine since the hospital cannot provide such service. But because recovering from TB takes time, this is a tough matter to both patients and their families. As time goes, when the expenses and the extent goes beyond the families' capability, the patients do not have any choice but to await death. Disease treating hospitals are leaving nearly 80% of the matter to the patients due to lacking medical device, medicine and insufficient food supply. Inevitably, patients without money and food are waiting for their end.
Doctors were passionate to save the patients when the hospitals were well-supplied since there are legal constraints when the patients die. Doctors without food rations have to plough in the subsidiary field in order to live. Working hours shortened, and insufficient medicine worsened the conditions. Doctors barely show responsibilities when the patient dies or when the medical accidents occurs because they can blame on the short supply from the government. Under the circumstances, only the patients and their family members are suffering and trying to pay for all the expenses.
Must pay 20,000 won for a Medical Certificate
Chungjin city is one of the most well medically systematized cities. Every district has various hospitals such as clinics, hospitals, province hospitals, university hospitals. However, patients do not have easy access to these services. Above all, one must hold a written request and visit clinics to higher hospitals such as university hospitals in order to receive an examination or a medical certificate. This eventually costs more than 20,000 won. Free medical service is not free any more, poor patients are losing their chances of medical care.
Goods are Preferred than Money - After the Flood
The merchants are sensitively reacting at the tense situation provoked by the immense damage of the flood and strained conditions after the missile launch. People who have money are carefully watching the circumstances and are concentrating on collecting gold rather than dollars. The rice price is rising day by day, even in granary areas such as Sariwon because of the flood damage. Therefore the money current is rigid. On the contrary, the number of people preferring spot goods such as gold is on the rise. Complaints on Overcharged Lodging Inns in the Chungjin are usually 100 won per night. However, when the customers out number the rooms, the bill sometimes rise. A military officer used a single room costing 1,000 won at an inn, which rose to 1,500 won when he came out 3 hours later. Inevitably, he quarrelled with the inn for more than 10 minutes. The condition of the inn is very poor with unclean toliets and bathrooms, where the water is failed to work properly. Many customers are complaining that the inns are raising the fees despite the terrible facilities.
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