OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Floods
12 October 2001


Situation and Damage

1.  Floods triggered by heavy rains, along with strong winds and sea
surges, between 9 and 10 October 2001 caused heavy casualties and
substantial damage on the eastern coast of DPR Korea, in particular, in
Kangwon province. According to the Flood Damage Rehabilitation Committee
of the Government of DPR Korea (FDRC), 81 people were killed with 82
injured and 27 missing, and 11,207 people were made homeless in Kangwon
province. Kangwon province is a food deficit area and is vulnerable to the
effects of adverse climatic conditions.

2.  WFP field staff in North and South Hamgyong report that very heavy
rains and flooding may also have affected these two provinces.

3.  Following the floods, the FDRC arranged an assessment mission for
resident agencies and NGOs to Kangwon Province on 11 October 2001. An
initial mission report indicates that an estimated 13,300 ha of paddy
fields have been affected in the province and the damage might account for
the loss of a total of 48,280 MTs of rice, equivalent to approximately USD
9.4 million worth. The Joint Inter-Agency/Government mission observed a
large number of people, including children, hurriedly salvaging bundles of
cut rice as they lay in the fields. It was thought that if this rice were
to be washed with clean water, up to ten percent of it could be saved.

4.  The floods have also reportedly caused damage to housing and affected
infrastructure including the road network, bridges, railway lines,
electricity, telephone lines, and water supplies.

5.  The mission report also indicates that in Wonsan city, which houses a
population of 309,000, streets were layered in mud and a number of houses
were damaged or destroyed. It is reported that the floods have seriously
diminished the provision of safe water and sanitation and the city itself
is currently without water. Local authorities are trucking in water from
mountain areas. There is a high risk of contamination in the water pipes
and fear that water-borne sanitation-related diseases will spread through
the city and its surrounding areas.

6.  For more detailed information, please find attached the report of the
Inter-Agency assessment mission which is also available on the OCHA
Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int


National and International Response

7.  No request for international assistance has been received by OCHA to
date.

8.  As mentioned above, an Inter-Agency rapid assessment mission was
conducted in Kangwon province on 11 October 2001. The participating
agencies were WFP, UNICEF, UNDP and OCHA as well as the European Union,
the Italian Development Cooperation and CESVI (Cooperazione e Sviluppo).

9.  The National Red Cross is responding to the disaster through the
provision of relief items such as blankets, kitchen sets, water
containers, water purification tablets and food.

10.  The in-country UN system as well as other international organisations
continue to closely monitor the situation.

11.  OCHA is in contact with its Office in Pyongyang, and will revert with
further information, as it becomes available.

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


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. J. McGoldrick / Mr. R. Mueller / Ms. S. DeSouza / Mr. S. Matsuka /
  Mr. K. Quiding
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1712 / 3131 / 1636 / 4034 / 1769

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 56
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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