Dear John,

Sanctions should never interfere with humanitarian assistance–especially amid a pandemic. And AFSC’s decades-long work in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) has shown that humanitarian engagement offers a path toward ending war and demilitarizing our world. 

But today, U.S. sanctions on the DPRK have the effect of delaying lifesaving aid from nonprofits like AFSC. 

That’s why I hope you will join me in urging Congress to say YES to including the Enhancing North Korea Humanitarian Assistance (ENKHA) Act in the next COVID-19 relief package.

The United Nations has indicated that roughly 10.1 million people in the DPRK are in urgent need of food assistance, and 10.4 million people are in need of nutritional support and better access to health care, clean water, and the sanitation and hygiene facilities necessary to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. 

While official reports from the DPRK claim there are no cases of COVID-19, the situation remains precarious. Roughly 100,000 cases have been confirmed in nearby China and South Korea, making the DPRK vulnerable to an outbreak. 

Tell Congress: Lift sanctions and help humanitarian aid reach North Korea.

AFSC knows from firsthand experience the difficulty in sending aid to the people of the DPRK. That’s why we worked closely with Rep. Andy Levin and Sen. Ed Markey to find solutions that became the basis for ENKHA. 

Now your representatives in Congress need to hear from you. 

Please send a message today.

In peace,

Daniel Jasper
AFSC Public Education and Advocacy Coordinator