Help needed for tens of thousands of homeless as flash floods strike DPR Korea
10 August 2002

More than 22,500 people who have been left homeless from flash floods and landslides in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), are in need of immediate assistance, says the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

It has launched an appeal for 900,000 Swiss francs (USD 600,000) to provide plastic sheeting, blankets, water purification tablets and medical aid for 22,500 people whose homes were washed away in a matter of minutes.

Sudden and torrential rains hit the western provinces of South Phyongan and South Hwanghae and several other counties on 5 August. Between 120-227 mm of rain fell in a 3-5 hour period in South Phyongan while in South Hwanghae, the rice-bowl of the country, up to 380 mm of rain fell in less than 10 hours. The flooding coincided with strong winds and was aggravated by water surges from burst dams. More than 400 people were injured and official sources report scores of people dead or missing.

Roads, railways and bridges have been damaged, as have 3,700 hectares of paddy and non-paddy fields in a country still experiencing severe food shortages.

"Due to an early warning flood alert by the DPRK Red Cross and local authorities, there was a safe evacuation of people which helped save lives. But with communication lines still down in some areas, we still don't have an accurate report on casualties," says International Federation head of Asia Pacific Department, Simon Missiri. "However, we do need to get assistance to the homeless and those badly affected by the floods, urgently."

The DPR Korea Red Cross immediately set up first aid posts to help those injured; its Rescue Team saved 189 people by boat and helped evacuate people to higher ground, while the Anju city branch mobilized more than 300 volunteers for search and rescue missions.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Jemini Pandya, Acting Head, Media Service - Tel: + 41 22 730 45 70 / 41 79 416 38 81 (duty phone)
Marie-Françoise Borel, Press Officer - Tel: + 41 22 730 43 46 / 41 79 217 33 45

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.