RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR NORTH KOREAN SOCIETY | http://www.goodfriends.or.kr/eng | email: [email protected]
No.192 August 2008
Eunduk North Hamgyong
Chungjin North Hamgyong
Gimchaek North Hamgyong
Hamheung South Hamgyong Heungnam South Hamgyong Wonsan Kangwon Province
Haeju South Hwanghae
Haeju City, "Don't stop giving porridge to children” Haeju city of South Hwanghae Province commanded the City Party and administrative government officials of the elementary school "provide porridge to children, even in light of the food shortage." The city had been providing children food by turning its food supply from the construction shock troop brigade (건설돌격대) of Mt. Baekdu to support the bureau of elementary schools. Elementary schools in Haeju City are providing three meals a day. The food is a mixture of wheat and corn in a ratio of 7 to 3 and amount of the food is a little less than the provisions. Vegetables and Korean cabbage soup are served as side dishes. Residents of the city are pleased with the news and grateful to Party's decision saying, "I cannot stop crying due to Party's thoughtful care for our children at this difficult time."
Haeju City Admitted the Homeless Children to Elementary School South Hwanghae Province has commanded government officials of the school "to take good cares of children who have no parents." Haeju city admitted 28 homeless children (kkotjebis) who came to the homeless shelter (꽃제비구제소) to the elementary school and those children were arranged to each grade according to their ages. Government officials of the City Party personally participated at the entrance ceremony to celebrate homeless children’s’ entrance into the school. The officials gave the children the necessities of life and encouraged them saying, "Although you do not have home and parents, you should endure the difficulties and study hard to become workers who render devoted service to General Kim Il-Song. Special lunch was also provided to the children.
Increase in the Adult Homeless in Wonsan City Since last May and June, the number of adult homeless has been increasing in Wonsan City, Kangwon province. At present, the number of adult homeless who have steadily appeared has doubled from 4 or 5 to about 10. It is hard to figure out how many homeless there are because they usually come in from somewhere and leave the city during the night. However, the homeless who have constantly showed up since last May have been wandering around Wonsan station, car and bus parking lots and market without disappearing.
Wonsan Kangwon Province
Wonsan Station Wonsan Station
Soonam Market
The Homeless at Ranam market, Chungjin Have Arisen Due To Food Scarcity of Last Spring When the food shortage was severe during the last spring, from April to June, the number of homeless in Ranam District of Chungjin City had increased. There are about 15 homeless people. 8 to 9 of them are young homeless and 5 to 6 are adult. According to young homeless, most of their parents died while them working for iron mills or sold their houses and left for the mountain or somewhere else due to the difficulty of obtaining food. Sarocheung (Socialist Working Youth League: SWYL) of the district was told "to seize the homeless and send them to the homeless shelters" by the party but disciplinary teams of SWYL say that it is useless because they escape soon.
In Gimchaek, the Adult Homeless Settled Around Train Stations In Gimchaek, North Hamkyong, the residing homeless usually gather together around train stations. They intend to get some food dropped while being uploaded on trains. Especially, the adult homeless are quick. They act outside markets because they are not allowed to go inside the markets. The young homeless in groups of 10-12, and adults, by 5-6, and therefore, the longer residing homeless usually have stronger power than those less residing in particular regions.
Eunduk County, the number of Homeless has increased to 15 for 2 Months In Eunduk, North Hamkyong, the number of homeless has increased to 15 for 2 months. There are about 9-10 minors and 5-6 adults. They are hanging around looking for food around markets. Meanwhile, in Hoeryong, Lee Soo-cheol (42) has become a homeless after he went broke. He is begging for food around markets, and people who know him feel pity for him. He was seen hanging around with the disabled homeless children for begging.
Residents in Sapo District, Hamheung, “the homeless became so because they hate to work” Hamheung, South Hamkyong, has abundant the homeless people due to food shortage. In Sapo District, 10 or so the adult and minor homeless are regularly haunting around markets. However, residents are not sympathizing with the adult homeless while being so with minors. Cho Hak-cheol (48) deplored saying, “the adult homeless are corrupt people who can’t handle their food shortage. They are not disabled. I cannot understand them. It is enough to be bothered by the minor homeless.”
In Heungnam, the Elderly Homeless Enrolled In Nursing Homes In Heungnam, South Hamkyong, the homeless in their 60s were forced to enroll in nursing homes by the police. In Heungnam, there are 9-10 minor homeless and 7-8 adult homeless including seniors. The senior homeless usually ran away from homes because of abuse from their children, or for fear of being a burden on them. However, even if they are enrolled in nursing home, it is still possible that they will run away soon due to the food shortage of the nursing homes.
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