Humanitarian Country Team Launches Flood Emergency Response Plan for $28.2m

Humanitarian agencies in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) urgently need US$28.2 million to assist people affected by flooding that hit the north-east of the country earlier this month. The Emergency Response Plan released today by the Humanitarian Country Team in DPRK outlines the support UN agencies and international NGOs are aiming to provide 600,000 people in the six most affected counties in North Hamgyong Province over the next six months. The plan focuses on life-saving activities in shelter, food and agriculture, health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, and education.

Following the flooding that killed 138 people, 400 people remain missing, and at least 140,000 people remain in immediate need of assistance, including 69,000 people who have been forced to leave their homes. An estimated 30,000 houses were damaged in the disaster, 62 per cent of which have been completed destroyed.

"Since the floods began, the humanitarian community in DPR Korea has been working to support the Government’s efforts to provide aid and restore basic services,” said the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Tapan Mishra. “Now with the onset of winter just around the corner there is an urgent need for additional funding to scale up the response and provide life-saving support to the tens of thousands of people made homeless by the disaster.”

As well as those who have lost their homes, up to 600,000 people are estimated to need some form of support after having lost access to safe water and basic services. As well as houses, up to 16,400 buildings including schools, kindergartens and health clinics have been damaged. More than 27,000 hectares of arable land has been inundated, destroying crops and killing livestock, while water supply systems are damaged, leaving communities dependent on sources of water that are likely to be contaminated.

The US$28.2 million funding requirement for the flood response is in addition to $122 million UN agencies are requesting as part of the DPRK Needs and Priorities Plan, which is currently 24 per cent funded.