Red Cross issues $5.5m appeal for North Korea flood victims

Source: The Guardian

North Korea's worst flooding in more than 30 years threatens to turn into a health disaster as survivors fall prey to waterborne diseases, the Red Cross warned today.

The humanitarian organisation issued an appeal for $5.5m (£2.78m) for medicines and supplies and said emergency help was needed to support the 89,000 people who have been left homeless by the heavy rains that have deluged vast swathes of the country in the past two weeks.

With between 30 and 40% of the country's health facilities and drug supplies damaged or destroyed, the Red Cross said the impact was being felt further afield.

"The situation is worsening as people are falling sick due to poor hygiene conditions," said Jaap Timmer, who heads the Pyongyang office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. "They need the international community's help."



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/korea/article/0,,2153392,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

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The article says NK appealed to The World Food Program for six months of emergency supplies.
I seemed to read somewhere that NK refused aid on the part of South Korean Red Cross. But could find accurate report.
Thanks for posting it if you find it, please.