Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1950-11-24

9EoOLy 1NOIGd- ou1 NGyn1S
the enormous task the United
Nations faces in relieving suffer-
ing in Korea, three points are of
paramount Importance.
First, the acute human need of
food, shelter, clothing and medi-
cine among the population.
Second, the amazingly vigorous
action taken by the Unified Com
mand, in collaboration with the
United Nations and its Specialized
Agencies, to meet the emergency.
Third, the danger that the
emergency work of relief already
in progress will be stopped if
there is a lapse in the flow of
necessary supplies.
The close relation between
these three interdependent points
must be borne in mind to appreci-
ate the magnitude of the problem
of relief in Korea.
Once more in this country is re-
peated the story of a land deva-
stated by war. Once more refu-
gees trail along the roads by the
thousands back to their homes.
Many will find their homes de-
stroyed or looted and will have
to face the approaching winter
without food, proper clothing, me-
dical supplies and shelter.
The plight of the homeless is
particularly severe in the large
cities that suffered the most dam
age in the recent fighting. The
port of Inchon and the city of
Seoul, the ancient capital of Ko-
rea, illustrate the hardships
brought upon the civilian popula-
ton by the violence of modern
warfare. It has been estimated
that one-half or more of Seoul
was destroyed. The destruction in
Inchon covers at least two-thirds
of that port city.
1t is feared that the lack of
shelter and warm clothing may
contribute to the spread of mass
contamination and disease. An in
tensive campaign of inoculation
has been started to inoculate the
entire populations of Inchon and
Seoul against smallpox. Mass in
oculations are also in progress
against typhus, typhoid and chol-
era. The immunization campaign
is being carried out by Korean
doctors under the direct super
vision of the Unified Command,
which supplies the medical equip
ment and vaccines.
In order to make sure that
everybody is inoculated, a special
certificate is issued to each indi-
vidual upon incubation, which he
must present in order r receive
a free daily ration of rice. Inocu-
lations are being administered in
a number of stations established
for this purpose.
All day two long lines move
slowly through the stations which
as rule, are decorated with flags
of the Republic of Korea and of
the UN. One of the lines passes
before doctors in charge of the
inoculation; the other before the
rice distribution officials.
The present serious problem of
feeding the populations of the dev-
astated cities, like Inchon and
Seoul, is the result of the COM
plete cleaning out of all available
food supplies by the North Ko-
reans. The refugee farmer going
back to his parcel of land can af-
ford to feed his family by cut
ting some of the special brands of
rice planted in Korea to ripen be-
fore the large crop is ready for
harvesting. However, this early
crop is not large enough to furn-
ish any substantial surplus for
city use.
To feed the hungry popula-
tions of the cities, the Unified
Command has brought in thous-
ands of tons of rice to be dis
tributed free among the needy.
The free distribution of rice be-
gan only a few days after the
liberation of Seoul and will con-
tinue until the end of the year
when the present rice crops will
be gathered and made ready for
the market.
The drying Of rice on the fields,
the custom of hand threshing and
hand polishing, before the crop is
ready for transport to the large
cities, must all be done with many
men away on military service.
This means that this years har-
vest will not be ready before the
middle of December.
1T has been estimated that the
rice crop in Korea this autumn
win be the largest in recent years.
Authorities affirm that the coun-
Try will have. enough food to fl