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In early September a small team of relief experts will enter DPRK (North Korea) to oversee distribution of World Vision medical aid and help with damage assessments in the wake of August's devastating floods. For media interviews,or to find out more about the visit, contact:
 Richard Rumsey, Director of Humanitarian & Emergency Affairs, World Vision Asia-Pacific
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Cell: +65 9137 2989
Richard Rumsey has worked with World Vision for the past 10 years with a primary focus on disaster management and humanitarian emergency programme support and management. In recent years he was responsible for developing and managing disaster response plans for tsunami relief in Thailand.
More recently he has been involved in supporting the development of World Vision National Offices across the Asia Pacific Region to effectively prepare and response to natural and conflict related disasters. This has included work with Indonesia, East Timor, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Philippines to name but a few. During his time previously working for World Vision UK he was responsible for the development and support of all British Government and European Union funded projects globally including representation on key NGO forums and working groups looking at quality and accountability as well as the effectiveness of international aid.
During 1998/99 he was involved in the support of agricultural recovery programmes in the DPRK including the technical training of DPRK agricultural scientists. His experience has been developed through working with a wide range of countries across the African sub continent as well as Asia Pacific. Building upon a career that grew from an initial qualification as an agricultural engineer, Richard went on to attain a Master of Science degree in Social and Economic Development and NGO management.
Richard is based with his family in Singapore.
 Victor Hsu, National Director, World Vision DPRK
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Office: 1-212-308-2098
Cell: 1-760-284-2036
Victor Hsu was born in Taiwan and grew up in Mauritius, near South Africa. He received his graduate school training at Yale University and Union Theological Seminary.
Prior to joining WVI, he served as Senior Advisor to the CEO of Church World Service and as liaison to the White House, the Congressional leadership and the Office of the UN Secretary General. He was Director of the Asia /Pacific Department for the National Council of Churches USA from 1987 to 2000.
From 1976 to 1987 Victor directed the United Nations programme of the World Council of Churches representing the WCC on the board of the Conference of NGOs (CONGO) in Consultative Status with the UN and serving as CONGO’s Vice-President and First Vice-President. During this time, he was in constant contact with the office of the Secretary General and the Presidents of the annual UN General Assembly sessions.
An expert on contemporary international issues, his leadership and expertise are often sought by civil society organizations. He has been a board member of several advocacy organizations and chaired several international roundtables. He has written extensively and is frequently invited to be a keynoter on international relations such as the role of the UN, terrorism and issues related to North East Asia.
He provided private briefings to the leadership of US Congress on both DPRK and religious freedom in China. He was an official observer to the Philippine Peace Talks and has been received by several heads of states and governments, and well-known diplomats around the world.
He was instrumental in setting up the Food Aid Liaison Unit of the World Food Programme in DPRK and was the first convenor of the NGO Steering Committee. He was a board member of the USA PVOC-Consortium that monitored USA’s contribution to the WFP Programme. He has met President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Young Nam of the Supreme People’s Assembly. After a November 2003 visit, President Roh Moo-hyun received him at the Blue House.
Victor is based in New York.
 Andrea Russell, Relief and Crisis Communications Manager, Asia-Pacific Region
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Cell: +91 99892 38223
UK-born Andrea Russell (or Andi, as she is known) brought her media qualifications and experience to World Vision in 2002, starting with the UK office as Senior Communications Officer then relocating to the Asia-Pacific regional communications team. Andi worked in several media spheres prior to coming to World Vision, including women’s magazines, television news and public relations for NGO's and issue based organisations.
In her current role, as well as advising on internal communications, Andi helps journalists find the information and people they need to report effectively and accurately on World Vision’s work in the region. Her role has a special focus on crises and emergencies. Andi's experience in the region includes training and supporting National Office communicators in order to give a voice to children, the poor and marginalised during disasters as well as to highlight the ongoing development and advocacy work World Vision is undertaking with millions of people across Asia-Pacific.
She and the team have also developed communication strategies for the region to ensure swift and efficient response and also covered the organisation's relief response to man-made and natural disasters, including South Asia Floods, Philippines floods, earthquakes in Indonesia and the conflict in Sri Lanka among others.
Andi lives and works in Hyderabad, India.
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