Video Update
Food Aid in North Korea
Beginning last summer, China suddenly cracked down on exports of unprocessed grains into North Korea. While the laws were not new, China had been lax in enforcing them, allowing us to smuggle huge truckloads of food aid into North Korea through our normal channels.
At the end of October, one of Alpha Relief’s smugglers witnessed ten people detained and arrested for attempting to smuggle food across the border. The food was confiscated. It was clearly too dangerous to use our usual methods and there was an immediate call to prayer.
Our partner needed wisdom and creativity as he witnessed every previously open door closed tight. Realizing that China allowed processed foods such as dried noodle packets out of the country, he worked with the idea of disguising the food aid as a legal cross-border product. Using a new processing method, he changed the rice to appear like a very common Chinese export, although it was still necessary to avoid close inspection.
Smaller shipments were also used to attract less attention. While this meant more delivery people, multiplying the risk, every delivery was successful and over 120 tons of food aid have been delivered to Believers in many walks of life. That’s enough to feed two villages for the entire winter (3000 people!).
This winter the underground church members you have fed include orphans, people in homes for the elderly, hospital workers, and factory workers. You even provided cooking oil to hungry government officials otherwise unable to obtain it. Fulfilling their request helps maintain good working relationships with them and allows favor in future aid projects.
Another Alpha Relief smuggler, desperate to get food aid into North Korea, uses a small cart or at times carries a 50 pound bag of rice on his back across a frozen river which forms the border between China and North Korea. If seen by the border guards he will be shot, no questions asked. Check out the video!
Here is a message from one family who benefited from this winter’s food aid:
At the end of October, one of Alpha Relief’s smugglers witnessed ten people detained and arrested for attempting to smuggle food across the border. The food was confiscated. It was clearly too dangerous to use our usual methods and there was an immediate call to prayer.
Our partner needed wisdom and creativity as he witnessed every previously open door closed tight. Realizing that China allowed processed foods such as dried noodle packets out of the country, he worked with the idea of disguising the food aid as a legal cross-border product. Using a new processing method, he changed the rice to appear like a very common Chinese export, although it was still necessary to avoid close inspection.
Smaller shipments were also used to attract less attention. While this meant more delivery people, multiplying the risk, every delivery was successful and over 120 tons of food aid have been delivered to Believers in many walks of life. That’s enough to feed two villages for the entire winter (3000 people!).
This winter the underground church members you have fed include orphans, people in homes for the elderly, hospital workers, and factory workers. You even provided cooking oil to hungry government officials otherwise unable to obtain it. Fulfilling their request helps maintain good working relationships with them and allows favor in future aid projects.
Another Alpha Relief smuggler, desperate to get food aid into North Korea, uses a small cart or at times carries a 50 pound bag of rice on his back across a frozen river which forms the border between China and North Korea. If seen by the border guards he will be shot, no questions asked. Check out the video!
Here is a message from one family who benefited from this winter’s food aid:
“Our family has the rice you gave us to eat, and that’s what we are living on right now.” - North Korean father
This message comes from a father who is disabled and without work. He must support both his parents and children, all living in the same home. Without your help, this family would starve. Thank you for ensuring hope!