Flooding in a Pyongyang neighborhood caused by heavy rains is pictured in this photo distributed by the Korea News Service on August 14, 2007. North Korean authorities have indicated flooding may have left up to 300,000 people homeless, a U.N. aid agency spokesman said on Wednesday, while the communist state warned of a poor harvest this year due to the heavy rain. REUTERS/Korea News Service (NORTH KOREA) JAPAN OUT
DPR Korea: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Floods
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
OCHA Situation Report No. 1
15 August 2007
This report on the floods in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is based on information from the OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP), UN Agencies and the International Federation for the Red Cross (IFRC).
SITUATION
1. Heavy seasonal rains have caused severe floods throughout DPRK since 5 August. The floods have had the greatest impact on the southern Provinces, including the capital city Pyongyang and key agricultural production regions. Affected provinces include Kangwon, North Hwanghae, South Hwanghae, Sotuh Hamgyong and South Phyongan and low-lying areas in the centre of the capital city of Pyongyang.
2. According to initial reports from 12 – 15 August, the floods have left as many as 300,000 people homeless, according to DPRK authorities. The Korean Central News Agency reports 30,000 houses damaged and tens of thousands of hectares of farmland flooded. Over 800 public buildings, 540 bridges, 70 sections of railway and more than 500 high voltage power towers were destroyed. Five large-capacity electric power sub-stations and more than 10 transformers were inundated or severely damage.
3. DPRK’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on 12 August that In North Hwanghae Province, more than 3,400 houses have been destroyed; more than 9,100 houses were flooded; and more than 13,000 hectares of farmland was submerged under water. In South Hamgyong Province, the MFA reported that more than 8,000 houses have been destroyed and more than 9,000 hectares of farmland was flooded.
4. Weather forecasts indicate continued heavy rains until 17 August.
NATIONAL RESPONSE
1. Government authorities have mobilized civilian and military resources to assist people affected by the floods. The People’s Committees are providing temporary shelter, clothing and food.
2. The DPRK Red Cross Society (DPRK RCS) dispatched staff to conduct assessments, as well as assist with rescue, evacuation, first aid and distribution of relief items.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
1. The Government of DPRK invited UN Agencies (UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP, WHO and UN Resident Coordinator a.i.) based in Pyongyang to participate in a needs assessment in the North Hwanghae Province on 14 August. The assessment noted the extent of damage in this Province to be as follows: approximately 10 per cent of the population displaced, 70 per cent of the total arable land flood-affected and 50 per cent of health clinics destroyed. The assessment team identified immediate needs of food, shelter and medicines and noted that temporary health facilities were in the process of being established.
2. On 14 August, the Secretary-General met with DPRK Permanent Representative Pak Gil Yon and assured the latter that the UN will be prepared to help the DPRK government and people to combat the effects of the floods. The DPRK Ambassador notes his appreciation of the UN offer.
3. Following, OCHA’s ASG/DERC met with the DPRK Permanent Representative on afternoon of 14 August to receive a briefing of the humanitarian situation in the country and to offer OCHA, as well as the UN humanitarian system’s, assistance in working with the government to provide relief to the disaster-affected population. OCHA has personnel on standby for deployment to assist the UN Office of the Resident Coordinator a.i. in coordinating the UN system’s response to the humanitarian emergency.
4. WFP Asia spokesman, Paul Risley, stated on 14 August that “if the figures are borne out by our own assessment, then we are very concerned that this is a significant emergency crisis…” Moreover, he noted that the primary need will be for emergency food rations, shelter material and medicine.
5. UNICEF has pre-positioned supplies in Government warehouses, including 100 essential medicine kits (each kit contains medicines for a population of 4,000 for a period of three months); 500 UNICEF family water kits (containing jerry cans, water purifying, tablets and soap for 5,000 families for one month), and 20 school in a box kits. UNICEF is concerned about the situation of children and women and their specific vulnerability in the flood-affected areas.
6. Almost 6,000 Red Cross volunteers are engaged in evacuation and relief and IFRC has pre-positioned 23,000 household kits in 6 locations. IFRC Headquarters is considering an appeal to assist some 1.2 million beneficiaries.
7. Humanitarian partners currently responding to the disaster include Concern, German Agro Action and the ECHO.
8. On 16 August, the UN, NGOs and ECHO will hold a meeting in Pyongyang to amalgamate assessments and determine the way forward.
9. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.
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