DPR Korea: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 2

Floods
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
OCHA Situation Report No. 2
17 August 2007

This report on the floods occurring 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, the International Federation for the Red Cross (IFRC), Programme Support Units (PSUs) and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

SITUATION

1. Heavy rains have caused severe floods throughout DPRK, with the greatest impact on the southern provinces, including the capital city Pyongyang and key agricultural production regions. Flood affected provinces include Kangwon, North Hwanghae, South Hwanghae, South Hamgyong and South Phyongan and low-lying areas in the centre of Pyongyang.

2. Confirmed information regarding the impact of the flood still remains limited. The assessment process and assistance efforts are being hampered by weather and damaged infrastructure.

3. The floods have left at least 221 people dead, 80 missing and over 300,000 people homeless. More then 46,500 houses were destroyed and 85,000 houses submerged or badly damaged, according to the Government of DPRK. Severe damage to infrastructure, including waterways, reservoirs, agricultural structures, bridges (over 540), railways (55,000m³ railway track washed away), electrical power sub-stations, water pumps and tidewater dykes is reported. Some villages remain inaccessible due to damaged roads and bridges.

4. The most flood affected provinces include the grain and rice bowls of the country. Initial estimates by the Ministry of Agriculture have 11 per cent of rice and maize fields submerged, buried or washed away. Economic losses from the floods have also incurred in other sectors, including coal mining, rail transport, fisheries and construction materials industries, according to Government information.

5. Need assessments have been conducted in the five most flood affected provinces by the United Nations, European Union, the International Federation of the Red Cross and PSUs from 14-16 August. The assessments indicated the urgent need for food, clean water, sanitation, temporary shelter, essential medicines, non-food items (NFIs) such as blankets and other household items, as well as communications and road/rubble clearance machinery and reconstruction materials. Needs assessments are on-going.

6. Weather forecasts indicate continued rains over the next 48 hours.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

1. The Government is mobilizing national civilian and military resources to provide assistance and gather data from the flood affected provinces, The UN, IFRC and PSUs are supporting the efforts of local authorities.

2. The DPRK Red Cross Society (RCS) is in the process of distributing 23,000 family kits through its 6,000 volunteers.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

1. WFP DPRK stands ready to release, if requested by the Government, in-country stocks of emergency rations, which include 4,000 MT of wheat flour, soybeans, vegetable oil and sugar. Provision of additional food assistance, including high energy biscuits, is currently being explored from regional stocks.

2. UNICEF and the Ministry of Public Health will begin distributing essential medical kits (each kit serving 4,000 people for three months), as well as 500 family water kits, containing jerrycans, water purifying tablets and soap, to meet family needs for the next month next week. UNICEF is procuring additional supplies of water purification tablets for 30,000 families and calcium hyperchlorite to treat municipal water systems in county towns. The agency is also working with the Ministry of Education to conduct a rapid assessment to assist schools in flooded areas in preparation for the new academic year after August. UNICEF will conduct assessments in five flood-affected counties where there is on-going programmes to assess the rehabilitation needs for school, health centres and nursery infrastructure.

3. WHO and the Ministry of Health will distribute 80,000 water purification tablets (each tablet purifies 20 litres) and 8 medical emergency kits (each kit serves 10,000 people for 3 months). WHO will also assist the Government in replenishing stocks and surge capacity to rehabilitate medical facilities in flood affected areas.

4. UNFPA is releasing emergency delivery kits (for home and clinic births) to ensure safe mother and child health. Additional assistance will be provided based on need assessments. UNFPA is conducting a pilot population census, which may provide an informative sample of the extent of housing damage in flood affected provinces.

5. The Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) released CHF 250,000 to support the DPRK's Red Cross Society in flood response, enabling the national society to continue distribution and start replenishing the warehouses.

6. The Republic of Korea (RoK) will provide up to USD 7.5 million worth of emergency aid next week, including instant noodles, bottled water, powdered milk, blankets and medicine.

7. The European Commission has made €100,000 Euros available from the emergency reserve of an existing humanitarian aid decision for DPRK to provide urgent relief in emergency shelter, medical assistance, and water/sanitation interventions.

8. Mercy Corps announced that it will provide emergency assistance worth USD 450,000 of food, medicines, clothes and basic tools to help clean-up such as buckets, gloves, soap and shovels.

9. German Agro Action is releasing €250,000 (€150,000 from Government of Germany) to provide food, water purification and cooking utensils for an estimated 50,000 people. German Agro Action is prepared to provide more assistance based on needs assessments, when requested.

10. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

MAP - Democratic People's Republic of Korea: Floods (as of 17 Aug 2007) - Situation Map

For detailed information, please contact:

OCHA Regional Office
for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok)
Mr. Markus Werne
Officer in Charge
Amanda Pitt
Reports Officer
Tel. + 66-2288-2558
Fax: +66-2288-1043
Mob. + 66-8-1917-8940
Email: werne@un.org

Desk Officer:
(NY) Mr. Ivan Lupis
OCHA CRD
Tel. +1-917 367 2056
Email: lupis@un.org

Press contact:
(NY) Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Tel. +1-917 367 5126

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel. +41-22-917 2653