2010 DPRK Summer Flooding

 

 

USG Provides $750,000 in Emergency Assistance

 September 1, 2010

 According to the Chosun Ilbo, the U.S. has provided $750,000 in emergency assistance, primarily medical supplies, in response to the tragic floods. The assistance will be distributed by three U.S NGOs, Global Resource Services, Samarian’s Purse and Mercy Corp. For more information, click here.

 

 

ROK Government offers $8.4 Million in emergency assistance to the DPRK

 August 31, 2010

According to Reuters, on August 31 South Korea government contacted the Korean Red Cross to offer 10 billion won ($ 8.4 million) of emergency aid in flood damage assistance to the DPRK. The DPRK has not yet responded to the offer. An earlier offer was made through the Kaesong Industrial Park .If accepted, it would be the largest aid provided by the ROK to the DPRK since the Lee Myung Bak administration took office. the sinking of the Cheonan. For more information, click here.

Samaritan’s Purse Sends Emergency Supplies to DPRK

 August 31, 2010

In response to the heavy rains in July and August in the DPRK, the American NGO Samarian’s Purse is airlifting tons of relief goods. The plane is expected to land on September 2. For more information, click here.

KCNA: Flood Damage Serious in Sinuiju City, Uiju County

 August 26 2010

Pyongyang, August 26 (KCNA) -- Torrential rains and floods have inflicted a serious damage on Sinuiju City and Uiju County, North Phyongan Province.

Rivers have overflowed by unprecedented downpours of rain that fell on the northeastern area of China on the August 19 and 20 and heavy rains on the area around Lake Suphung of Korea from August 21 to lash the city and county.

According to information available for a relevant organ, more than 7,100 dwelling blocks for 7,750 families have been totally or partially destroyed or submerged.

An estimated 7,200 hectares of farmlands have been flooded, buried or washed away and more than 300 production-related and public buildings, 400 meters of bridges, 7,700 cubic meters of railroad, many structures, vehicles, water pumps and electromotors damaged.

Many pieces of power transmission equipment have also been lost.

The government is buckling down to flood recovery, stabilizing the life of the affected people.

 

KCNA: Chinese Govt Decides to Provide Relief Materials to DPRK

 August 25, 2010

The Chinese government decided to provide emergency relief materials to the DPRK in connection with the fact that some areas of the DPRK including Sinuiju, North Phyongan Province, were hit by flood recently.

This measure will encourage the Korean people in their efforts to recover from the flood damage as early as possible and more energetically step up the building of a thriving nation.

 

KCNA: Flood Victims Rescued by Servicepersons 

August 22, 2010

Planes of the air force and warships of the navy of the Korean People's Army rushed to the area of Sinuiju, North Phyongan Province, hit by sudden torrential rain and successfully conducted an emergency operation on August 21 to rescue the inhabitants who were at the crossroads of life and death.

Unprecedented downpour hit the northeastern area of China on August 19 and 20, causing flooding in rivers. This also adversely affected the northwestern area of Korea.

5,300 cubic meters of water rushed into the River Amnok per second from a river of China, causing the water level of the river to rise suddenly from 0:00 on August 21. As a result, the river swelled in a minute, leaving even Sinuiju City inundated. This paralyzed traffic and did damage to many objects.

Hardest hit by flooding were Sangdan-ri, Hadan-ri, Taji-ri, Soho-ri in Uiju County, Ojok Islet and Maksa Islet in Sinuiju City. They were completely submerged and single-story houses went under water.

The flood victims were at a loss on the roof tops of buildings and hills.

The institutions concerned took emergency measures to rescue the victims but the damage was so serious that they proved unsuccessful. Upon hearing this, General Secretary Kim Jong Il ordered KPA units to immediately launch rescue operations.

Air force units sent dozens of planes and navy units warships and various types of means and succeeded in evacuating at least 5,150 flood victims to safe areas in close touch with officials of party and power organs and people's security organs in the flood-hit areas.

The inhabitants in the flood-ravaged areas and servicepersons who were mobilized for the rescue operations noted in excited tone that the socialist system in the DPRK is the most advantageous and benevolent one as the life and properties of people are protected by servicepersons and Kim Jong Il is the greatest father as he provided this land of bliss for the people.

 

KCNA: Sinuiju Area Struck by Devastating Flood

  August 21, 2010

Sinuiju City and its vicinity of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have been severely affected by flood.

All dwelling houses, public buildings and arable land in Sangdan, Hadan, and Taji ris of the city, Soho and Ojok ris of Uiju County and other rural communities around the city have been submerged with the River Amnok overflowing due to more than 300mm rainfalls on the area around Lake Suphung from midnight to 9 a.m. Saturday and heavy rains on border areas of China.

 Christian Friends of Korea Assesses Flood Damage

August 20, 2010

Christian Friends of Korea announced on August 20, 2010 that they would assess the impact of the July floods in a trip beginning late August and called for funds to address flood damage. See their press release or visit their website here.

******

The DPRK was hit by heavy rains from July 19 through July 23. On August 5, KCNA declared the flood damage to be serious. 

KCNA: Red Cross Relief Activities in DPRK

August 10, 2010 

Red Cross activities have been conducted in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to heal the flood damage and stabilize the life of the people in the affected areas.

The DPRK Red Cross Society, in collaboration with the members of the delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies working in the country, has sent relief goods to the flood-stricken areas.

Red Cross branch offices in such areas as Anju City and Nyongwon and Taehung Counties of South Phyongan Province and Sinhung, Yonggwang and Pukchong Counties of South Hamgyong Province have made a detailed survey of the flood damage, while stabilizing people's livelihood.

Participating in the relief activities are more than 4,500 Red Cross members and volunteers. They have set up first-aid treatment stations in many places to give medical services to those suffering from injuries and contaminated water.

Branch offices have also provided residents with information necessary for preventing accidents and diseases in anticipation of another torrential rain.

 

 KCNA: Work Brisk to Recover from Flood Damage

  August 8, 2010

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- A work is progressing apace in the areas of the DPRK hit by consecutive days of heavy rain and downpour.

The city of Pyongyang and local areas are tapping all reserves and possibilities to ensure the supply of necessary materials and mobilizing all manpower and means on the basis of the assessment of the damage done to those areas.

Urgent consultative meetings took place in the flood-stricken areas to take measures to bring the living of the inhabitants there to normal. Rapid progress is being made in the work to reconstruct the dwelling houses and public buildings destroyed by heavy rain and downpour and put roads and bridges into their original shape.

The working people in South Hamgyong Province reinforced all the destroyed irrigation waterways in at least 110 places in a short span of time while those in North Phyongan Province are reporting successes everyday in the project to improve the flood-hit rivers and streams.

South Hwanghae Province drained off water from the waterlogged thousands of hectares of paddy and dry fields, reducing the damage done to crops. It is now busy clearing ditches near fields and improving river embankments.

The work to recover from flood damage is also making brisk headway in railway transport, post and tele-communication and other fields in flood-stricken Jagang Province. Rail roads have been put into order and tele-communication lines in the destroyed or inundated major construction sites restored immediately.

KCNA: Work Brisk to Recover from Flood Damage

August 8, 2010

 

 

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- A work is progressing apace in the areas of the DPRK hit by consecutive days of heavy rain and downpour.

The city of Pyongyang and local areas are tapping all reserves and possibilities to ensure the supply of necessary materials and mobilizing all manpower and means on the basis of the assessment of the damage done to those areas.

Urgent consultative meetings took place in the flood-stricken areas to take measures to bring the living of the inhabitants there to normal. Rapid progress is being made in the work to reconstruct the dwelling houses and public buildings destroyed by heavy rain and downpour and put roads and bridges into their original shape.

The working people in South Hamgyong Province reinforced all the destroyed irrigation waterways in at least 110 places in a short span of time while those in North Phyongan Province are reporting successes everyday in the project to improve the flood-hit rivers and streams.

South Hwanghae Province drained off water from the waterlogged thousands of hectares of paddy and dry fields, reducing the damage done to crops. It is now busy clearing ditches near fields and improving river embankments.

The work to recover from flood damage is also making brisk headway in railway transport, post and tele-communication and other fields in flood-stricken Jagang Province. Rail roads have been put into order and tele-communication lines in the destroyed or inundated major construction sites restored immediately.

 

Relief Web Releases Map of DPRK Floods

August 6, 2010

On August 6, Relief Web released a map showing that flooded areas in the DPRK: P'yongan-bukto; P'yongan-namdo;  Chagang-do; Hamgyong-namdo; Hwanghae-namdo and Kangwon-do.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/CVIE-883CFS?OpenDocument&amp;rc=3&amp;emid=FL-2010-000153-PRK<br />

 

KCNA: Flood Damage Confirmed Serious

August 5. 2010

 

Pyongyang, August 5 (KCNA) -- It has been ascertained that torrential rains in July did a great deal of damage to people's living, railway transport, agriculture and other economic sectors in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

According to information available in a relevant organ, some 5,560 dwelling houses and more than 350 public buildings and production-related facilities were destroyed or inundated and some 14,850 hectares of farmland submerged, buried or washed away in the country.

A total of 673 dwelling houses collapsed in Jagang Province and 486 in South Hamgyong Province. Even casualties were reported from the areas and their residents have seriously been affected by heavy rains.

Not a small number of industrial establishments were damaged or flooded, inflicting an adverse effect on the economic growth and the people's living.

Two 150,000KVA transformers, a 75,000KVA transformer and other power equipment were broken and roadbeds buried under landslides, blocking up railway traffic in some areas.

Some river embankments were crumbled and roads and bridges waterlogged or wrecked in South Phyongan and Kangwon provinces and other areas.

Many sections of irrigation channels were also seriously damaged.

An estimated 7,380 hectares of farmland got submerged in such granaries as South Hwanghae, North and South Phyongan and South Hamgyong provinces alone.

Efforts have been made to heal the flood damage in the affected areas.

 

NASA: Flooding Along the China/North Korea Border

August 5, 2010

 

NASA provided images and reported (Flooding along the China/North Korea Border) that “Although the differences in water levels along Yalu Jiang are not dramatic, they are discernible. The river appears wider in 2010, and higher water levels appear along the multiple tributaries feeding the river.”

Xinhua News Agency:  Record Rainfall hits China's NE Border River Basins

August 4, 2010

 

According to Xinhua News Agency, (Record rainfall hit China's NE border river basins) the Yalu and Tumen rivers have had the most rain since precipitation has been recorded, over 200  percent higher than in normal years. Xinhua reported that “the province's Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, which borders the DPRK to its south, has suffered the worst floods in a hundred years this year, with nearly one fourth of its 2.18 million residents affected by the extreme weather.”

KCNA: Inhabitants in Flood-stricken Areas Rescued 

July 23. 2010

 

Pyongyang, July 23 (KCNA) -- 68 working people and children in Unsan of North Phyongan Province and Sinhung and Hamhung areas of South Hamgyong Province were miraculously rescued by helicopters from the serious flood that hit those areas in the afternoon of July 22.

 

KCNA: Torrential Rain Persists

July 23. 2010

 

Pyongyang, July 23 (KCNA) -- Torrential rain hit some areas of the DPRK on July 22 and 23 under the influence of low atmospheric pressure that moved southeast from the north of the West Sea of Korea.

According to information available from 21:00 of July 22 to 6:00 of July 23, torrential rain persisted in Kangwon Province and North and South Hwanghae Provinces.

Typical rainfall registered 124 mm in Ichon County from 21:00 of July 22 to 3:00 of July 23 while 107 mm in Kaesong, 79 mm in Paechon County and 52 mm in Pongchon County from 3:00 to 6:00 on July 23.

 

KCNA: DPRK Again Hit by Torrential Rain

July 22. 2010

 

Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) -- Some parts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea were hit again by torrential rain under the influence of subtropical anticyclone from the Northwestern Pacific and low atmospheric pressure that moved to the northern area from north of the West Sea of Korea.

According to information available from 0: 0 of July 21 to 21 of July 22, rainfall registered over 200mm in Unsan County of North Phyongan Province and Songwon County of Jagang Province and more than 180 mm in Singye County of North Hwanghae Province, Ryongrim County of Jagang Province, Phangyo County of Kangwon Province and Yodok area of South Hamgyong Province.

Torrential rain hit nearly 50 local areas including Huichon City of Jagang Province, Pukchang and Maengsan counties of South Phyongan Province, Thaechon County of North Phyongan Province, Poptong County of Kangwon Province, Yongkwang and Hamju counties of South Hamgyong Province.

 

KCNA: DPRK Hit by Heavy Rains

July 18. 2010

  

Pyongyang, July 19 (KCNA) -- Many areas of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have been hit by heavy rains caused by a subtropical anticyclone over the northwest Pacific and a low atmospheric pressure over the central part of the West Sea of Korea.

According to information available from 12 a.m. of July 16 to 9 a.m. of July 19, the precipitation was 332mm in Jangphung, 287mm in Kaesong, 274mm in Phangyo, 252mm in Kaephung, 251mm in Sepho, 243mm in Nyongbyon, 239mm in Sinphyong, 236mm in Pukchang, 227mm in Koksan, 226mm in Maengsan, 204mm in Ichon and 201mm in Nyongwon.

More than 100 millimeters of rain poured on some 70 areas of Pyongyang, Nampho City, North and South Phyongan, North and South Hwanghae, Kangwon, Jagang and South Hamgyong Provinces.

50-70 millimeters of rainfall were observed in Kophung County of Jagang Province between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. of July 17, Nampho between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. of July 18 and Phyongwon, Sukchon, Sunchon, Kaechon and Jungsan of South Phyongan Province and Unchon and Songhwa of South Hwanghae Province from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. of July 18.

 

KCNA: Strict Measures Taken to Prevent Flood Damage

July 8. 2010

 

Pyongyang, July 8 (KCNA) -- Nationwide anti-flood measures are taken in Korea in every July and August.

Large and minor hydro-electric power stations across the country including Kangwon, Jagang and South Hamgyong Provinces have properly repaired and readjusted dams, intakes, waterways and other structures.

Collieries and mines in the central and northern parts of the country including Anju, Sunchon and Tanchon areas have checked, repaired and reinforced drainage equipment in time to keep pits, excavated coal and ores from being inundated and washed away.

 

Thorough measures have been taken in the railway transport sector to protect from flood railroads, railway bridges, retaining walls and other railway facilities and structures in the northern inland and on the east coast.

Co-op farms in South Hwanghae and North and South Phyongan Provinces are improving waterways and ditches to protect land, crops and agricultural production facilities from any heavy rainfall.

 

The sectors of the land and city management are checking the rivers, waterways, reservoirs, sewerage networks and storm sewerage system to remedy defects. 

Lock gates are kept ready to open sluices any time.

The hydrometeorological services are trying to ensure promptness and correctness in weather forecast.

 

KCNA: China Offers Aid Materials to DPRK

July 7. 2010

 

Pyongyang, July 7 (KCNA) -- The Red Cross Society of China donated aid materials to the DPRK Red Cross Society.

A ceremony for donating them took place in Pyongyang on Wednesday. Present there were Paek Yong Ho, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society, and officials concerned, a delegation of the Red Cross Society of China headed by Vice-President Hao Linna, Ambassador Liu Hongcai and officials of the Chinese embassy here. Speeches were made at the ceremony.

 

Chart of USAID Shipments to the DPRK -- 2009

January 27, 2009

This chart lists all USAID Food Aid Shipments to the DPRK. It was last updated January 27, 2009, and will be updated as appropriate.

 

Australia's Assistance to WFP for DPRK

January 13, 2009

 

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith announced on January 13 that Australia will contribute $3.75 million in humanitarian aid to North Korea. Responding to the findings of the joint report from the FAO and WFP, Australia is contributing $2 million of the $3.75 million to the WFP for "urgent food supplies to the most vulnerable groups in North Korea."

 

US food aid to North Korea

January 6, 2009

 

The State Department announced on January 6 that a shipment of 21,000 metric tons of US food aid is expected to arrive in North Korea later this week. "We continue to support the US-DPRK food aid program and are committed to the well-being of the North Korean people," the State Department said in a statement. The statement also said that the shipment will be distributed by US NGOs.

 

Estonia's Contribution to DPRK through WFP

December 11, 2008

 

In a response to the joint report of FAO and WFP on December 8, the government of Estonia announced on December 11 that it will contribute 500,000 kroons (32,000 EUR) to aid "needy citizens in North Korea" through the World Food Programme in North Korea.

 

FAO and WFP joint report on North Korea Food Shortages

December 8, 2008

 

In a December 8 joint press release, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said that an estimated 8.7 million people, about 40 percent of the DPRK population, will face food shortages due to an expected deficit in agricultural production. According to the report of FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission, conducted in October 2008, the grain deficit is expected due to shortages of fertilizer and fuel. "The findings of the mission confirm WFP's fears that millions of DPRK households will suffer through yet another year of food shortages," said Torben Due, the WFP DPRK Representative in Pyongyang. "Previous food security assessments have shown that the majority of families in DPRK are already cutting down the average number of meals per day and consuming a diet treacherously poor in diversity," said Due. The report estimates the grain deficit to be 836,000 MT, even after commercial imports of about 500,000MT for the 2008/2009 year. The DPRK needs approximately 800,000 MT of food to feed almost 9 million people until the next harvest in October 2009.

 

Italy's contribution to FAO

October 17, 2008

The Italian government announced on October 17 that its Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Directorate General for Cooperation and Development has contributed a sum of 150,000 Euros to FAO "in response to urgent humanitarian assistance in the DPRK." The government spokesman said that "the contribution, in particular, will improve the rehabilitation of agricultural sector and it will cover needs identified by FAO."

 

Australian Government Pledges its Commitment on Food Security

October 16, 2008

The Australian government announced on October 16 (World Food Day) that it will contribute $3 million to the World Food Program in North Korea. This aid will support WFP's new emergency operation to undertake food shortages in North Korea.

 

Fourth US Food Aid Shipment to the DPRK

October 16, 2008

The fourth US food aid shipment of 25,060 metric tons of bulk corn and soy is scheduled to sail for the DPRK this week. Upon its arrival in Nampo in late November, the shipment will be distributed by the partnership of five humanitarian agencies: Mercy Corps, World Vision, Samaritan' s Purse, Global Resource Services and Christian Friends of Korea. It would be the fist time that this NGO partnership will conduct and monitor the distribution of the shipment in its entirety. The food will be delivered to recipients through public distribution centers, orphanages, schools, hospitals and nurseries in Chagang and North Pyongan Provinces.

 

WFP Announces new DPRK Program

September 2, 2008

In a September 2 press release, the World Food Programme announced a new food assistance program to the DPRK totaling nearly half a billion dollars. The WFP reported the following contributions: Switzerland (US$970,000), Italy (US$770,000), Norway (US$395,000), New Zealand (US$347,000), Luxembourg (US$ 297,000).

Heavy Rains Hit DPRK

August 6, 2008

In July and August heavy rains hit the DPRK in areas also affected by summer 2007 flooding. According to KCNA (Torrential rains hit DPRK, August 4) it rained heavily in most parts of the country on July 20, 21, 24 and 25 and again from August 1-August 3. The August rains were particularly severe in Kangwon, North and South Phyongan and South Hwanghae provinces. KCNA reported that the "recent downpours inflicted heavy losses to various sectors of the national economy including agriculture and to the people's living in the relevant areas. In an August 5 press release ("Heavy Rains in DPR Korea"), the Food and Agriculture Organization pointed out three reasons for concern that flooding may occur including the observation that recently annual rainfall has become "heavier and more concentrated over the July and August period" and the fact that although "considerable labor has gone into rebuilding embankments, small dams, and even into dredging of major watercourses," rehabilitation from the August 2007 floods is incompete, leaving such structures vulnerable to cresting waters.

WFP Survey in DPRK Finds Widespread Hunger

July 30, 2008

At a July 30 press briefing, Jean-Pierre de Margerie, UN World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director for DPRK said that "Millions of vulnerable North Koreans are at risk of slipping towards precarious hunger levels." His comments were based on a survey conducted by the WFP and the UN Food and and Agriculture Organization (FAO)in June of 53 counties in Ryanggang, North Hamgyong, South Hamgyong, Kangwon, North Hwanghae, South Hwanghae, South Phyongan, and Pyongyang provinces. According to the press release, rice has almost tripled in price from more than a year ago, and maize has quadrupled in price. North Hamgyong Province is one of the worst affected regions. "The last time hunger was so deep and so widespread in parts of the country was in the late 1990s," said de Margerie. This was the most comprehensive assessment conducted since 2004.

New Zealand Announces Aid to DPRK

July 29, 2008

New Zeland Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced on July 29 that New Zeland will contribute $500,000 to the DPRK via the WFP. Peters said "The World Food Programme is the only major international agency addressing the consequences of the food shortage in North Korea. They are a trusted partner for New Zealand's aid efforts and will help to ensure our assistance gets to those who need it most."

Food Aid from Russia

July 9, 2008

 

Food aid to the DPRK arrived this week in Sinuiju from Russia via train. The food will be distributed by the WFP. KCNA commented that the food that Russia provided to the people of North Korea is a mark of the existing friendship of the peoples of the two countries.

First Food Shipment Reaches DPRK

July 1, 2008

The first U.S. food aid shipment, 37,000 metric tons (MT) of U.S. wheat, arrived in Nampo last weekend. Half the shipment will be unloaded in Nampo, with the remainder to be unloaded in Hungnam and Chongjin, according to the International Herald Tribune. The shipment, the first of 500,000 MTs, comes following a joint needs assessment to determine commodity mix and delivery schedules. On June 30, the five US NGOS (Mercy Corps, World Vision, Samaritan's Purse, Global Resource Services and Christian Friends of Korea) that will be delivering 100,000 MTs of the assistance issued a press release about the assesment and their plans. The World Food Programme announced a new agreement governing the WFP delivery of aid, according to a posting on Relief Web: "The new agreement with the DPRK Government will allow WFP to send nearly 50 more international aid workers to the country, who will oversee and monitor the delivery of food to make sure it reaches hungry people most in need. It allows the organization to expand into 128 counties, up from just 50, including the remote and traditionally food-insecure Northeast and some counties never before accessible to humanitarian agencies." For more humanitarian news, click here.

US to Send Primarily Corn

July 2, 2008

According to Reuters, USAID's future food aid

to the DPRK will consist mostly of corn. USAID plans to buy about 50,000 tonnes of food a month for a year.

Contributions to WFP in DPRK: Russia joins Italy, Australia

June 20, 2008

According to the International Herald Tribune, Russia announced on June 18 that they are sending 2,860 MT of wheat flour to the DPRK via the World Food Programme (WFP). They join Italy, which announced a 500,000 Euro contribution to the WFP (Relief Web), also on on June 18 and a June 6 announcement by Australia of a US$ 29 million commitment to the DPRK (IHT). Meanwhile, on June 30 the DPRK did not accept an offer made by the ROK government for a shipment of 50,000 MT of corn, according to the IHT.

US to Resume Food Aid to DPRK

May 20, 2008

On May 16, 2008, USAID announced that, due to reports of a major shortfall in food supplies in North Korea, the United States government will provide 500,000 metric tons (MT) of mixed commodities over a twelve month period beginning June 2008. The World Food Programme (WFP) will distribute approximately 400,000 MTs and the remainder will be distributed by US NGOs. The United States reported that the assistance will be delivered according to new agreements on monitoring, and an announcement in KCNA on May 17 commented that "The DPRK is ready to provide all technical conditions necessary for the food delivery." An upcoming "experts meeting" will determine operational details prior to the first delivery.

For an outline of the NGO, bilateral and multilateral responses to the Summer-Fall 2007 flooding in the DPRK, please click here.