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North Korean tuberculosis patients at risk as sanctions hamper medicine shipments North Korean tuberculosis patients at risk as sanctions hamper medicine shipments
(about 5 hours later)
TOKYO — The lives of more than 1,500 North Korean tuberculosis patients are at risk, an American-run humanitarian foundation said Wednesday, because tough new sanctions are stopping medicine from getting to sick people.TOKYO — The lives of more than 1,500 North Korean tuberculosis patients are at risk, an American-run humanitarian foundation said Wednesday, because tough new sanctions are stopping medicine from getting to sick people.
Following the multilateral sanctions imposed by the United Nations this month as punishment for North Korea’s recent nuclear test and missile launch, South Korea this week imposed direct sanctions of its own. But unlike the unilateral American sanctions passed by Congress, the South Korean measures do not make an exception for humanitarian aid. Following the multilateral sanctions imposed by the United Nations this month as punishment for North Korea’s recent nuclear test and missile launch, South Korea this week imposed direct sanctions of its own. But unlike the unilateral American sanctions passed by Congress, the South Korean measures do not make a general exception for humanitarian aid.
That has hamstrung the Eugene Bell Foundation, which treats people with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis inside North Korea but cannot get the export licenses it needs to ship medicine from the South to its treatment facilities in the North.That has hamstrung the Eugene Bell Foundation, which treats people with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis inside North Korea but cannot get the export licenses it needs to ship medicine from the South to its treatment facilities in the North.
“Unless something is done quickly, our patients will fail treatment and die,” said Stephen W. Linton, chairman of the foundation. “Short of all-out war, I cannot imagine a greater tragedy for the Korean people,” he said.“Unless something is done quickly, our patients will fail treatment and die,” said Stephen W. Linton, chairman of the foundation. “Short of all-out war, I cannot imagine a greater tragedy for the Korean people,” he said.
The foundation is run by Linton, an American, from South Korea. About 85 percent of the foundation donors are South Korean — the remainder are mostly Korean-Americans — and the medicines are sourced from South Korea.The foundation is run by Linton, an American, from South Korea. About 85 percent of the foundation donors are South Korean — the remainder are mostly Korean-Americans — and the medicines are sourced from South Korea.
The Eugene Bell Foundation, which treated more than 250,000 tuberculosis patients in the decade to 2007, has since been focusing on diagnosing and treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, a particularly pernicious form of infection that does not respond to standard TB medication. While 95 per cent of people with regular TB are cured, the international average cure rate for multidrug-resistant TB is only 45 percent, and the medicine costs more than 100 times as much.The Eugene Bell Foundation, which treated more than 250,000 tuberculosis patients in the decade to 2007, has since been focusing on diagnosing and treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, a particularly pernicious form of infection that does not respond to standard TB medication. While 95 per cent of people with regular TB are cured, the international average cure rate for multidrug-resistant TB is only 45 percent, and the medicine costs more than 100 times as much.
The foundation now has 12 treatment centers supported operating at full capacity inside North Korea, and a queue of patients lining up for the 18-month course of treatment.The foundation now has 12 treatment centers supported operating at full capacity inside North Korea, and a queue of patients lining up for the 18-month course of treatment.
But its shipment for its spring treatment session, which should have left the South Korean port of Pyongtaek before February 18, has not received export permits, which Linton said had been granted by four successive South Korean administrations, including the current one.But its shipment for its spring treatment session, which should have left the South Korean port of Pyongtaek before February 18, has not received export permits, which Linton said had been granted by four successive South Korean administrations, including the current one.
His pleas to the government to allow three containers of medicine and treatment supplies to be shipped — it has to go to the Chinese port of Dalian then the North Korean port of Nampo, before being moved to the treatment facilities — haven’t swayed leaders.His pleas to the government to allow three containers of medicine and treatment supplies to be shipped — it has to go to the Chinese port of Dalian then the North Korean port of Nampo, before being moved to the treatment facilities — haven’t swayed leaders.
Under new sanctions unveiled Tuesday, the South Korean government imposed stronger controls and imports from and exports to North Korea. Furthermore, the U.N. sanctions call for mandatory inspection of cargo going to North Korea, meaning it could take longer for the shipment to get through China. Under new sanctions unveiled Tuesday, the South Korean government imposed stronger controls and imports from and exports to North Korea and include a carve-out aid for infants and pregnant women only, not for the general population. Furthermore, the U.N. sanctions call for mandatory inspection of cargo going to North Korea, meaning it could take longer for the shipment to get through China.
The centers in North Korea have just enough medication to last through April, when Linton and foundation doctors are next due to visit.The centers in North Korea have just enough medication to last through April, when Linton and foundation doctors are next due to visit.
“These people need additional medication to finish the program, and if they don’t get it, they run the risk of developing additional resistance and dying,” Linton said, perhaps in as little as two weeks. “Should they return home to die, everyone who comes into contact with them will be at risk of contracting this particularly dangerous type of ‘super-TB’,” he said. “These people need additional medication to finish the program, and if they don’t get it, they run the risk of developing additional resistance and dying,” Linton said. “Should they return home to die, everyone who comes into contact with them will be at risk of contracting this particularly dangerous type of ‘super-TB’,” he said.
South Korean government officials did not immediately respond to request for comment. Park Soo-jin, a spokeswoman for the South's unification ministry, said that the foundation's export request was under review and that the government was taking into consideration the urgency of the matter.
"The [South] Korean government maintains the basic principle that we will continue to provide humanitarian aid for the vulnerable in North Korea, including infants and mothers," she said. "The specific time, amount and area of the aid, however, will be reviewed considering overall circumstances and situation.