OCHA Situation Report No. 13
DPR Korea: Floods
22 October 2007


This situation report is based on information from UN Agencies, IFRC,
Programme Support Units (PSUs), the Government of the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea and the OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the
Pacific (OCHA ROAP).

SITUATION

1. Heavy rains from 7-14 August 2007 caused severe floods in nine
provinces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), including
the capital city, Pyongyang.  The floods affected almost one million
people and displaced nearly 170,000, as well as at least 454 people
reported deaths and 156 people remain missing.  Government statistics
sources reported over 40,000 houses completely destroyed, with a further
200,000 submerged or badly damaged in the floods. Thousands of schools,
hospitals and other public buildings were destroyed or badly damaged. At
least 10 per cent of agricultural land was also inundated.

2. Rainstorms and strong winds caused by Typhoon Wipha from 17-20
September led to further severe damage in four provinces. The DPRK Red
Cross Society estimates that an additional 1,649 people were made
homeless and over 109,000 hectares of farmland damaged.

COORDINATED IN-COUNTRY RESPONSE

Health and Nutrition

3. The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is collecting and analysing
disease surveillance data in the aftermath of the floods. Despite a rise
in diarrhoea cases, no major disease outbreak was reported. The MoPH is
developing a proposal for a comprehensive disease surveillance system,
expected to be shared with health sector partners soon.

4. Rapid Nutritional Screening (MUAC) of children under 5 took place in
19 of the worst-affected counties from 15 - 18 October. The MoPH and a
UNICEF nutritional advisor will analyse the results of the assessment
and develop a response plan before the end of October. Procurement of
therapeutic food continues and adequate stocks for the initial response
phase are now in place.

5. Programme Support Unit 1 is currently procuring medical kits for
eleven hospitals in Anju, Haeju, Hamhung, Hoechang, Kumya, Nampo,
Pyongyang, Sariwon, Unjeon and Wonsan counties. A permanent water supply
has now been installed at Wonsan general hospital, with installation of
water supplies at hospitals in Sariwon and Pyonsung underway. Roof
repairs are taking place at Unjeon hospital. PSU 1 received =80 420,000
from ECHO in mid-September and discussions are underway with SIDA to
provide a further =80 110,000.

6. Emergency Health Kits will be distributed by health sector partners
in Pyongyang city (Rakrang, Songyo, Pyongchon, Tongdaewon, Potonngang
districts) and North Pyongan (Sinuiju, Hyangsan, Tongrim counties).
Cholera kits will be provided to provinces (Pyongyang city, North
Pyongan, South Hwanghae province) in preparation of a future cholera
outbreak. 30 Emergency Health Kits will be procured as part of WHO's
CERF allocation (total US$ 800,000) and kits have also been provided by
the Governments of Norway, Poland and Switzerland. IFRC is distributing
a further 15 kits.

7. IFRC continues distribution of regular and emergency medicine
supplies in 22 counties in South Phyongan, South Hwanghae and Kaesong
provinces. IFRC is planning to conduct a rapid assessment of 200 flood
damaged health facilities. A revised IFRC appeal will enable the
Federation to provide medical furniture and equipment after facilities
have been rehabilitated by the MoPH.

8. Reproductive health kits for 300,000 people were distributed to
health clinics in affected areas of South Hamgyong province at the end
of September. CERF funding (US$ 300,000) is being used by UNFPA to
procure reproductive health kits to be distributed to a further 240
health clinics. The first shipment of kits is expected in early November
2007. UNFPA is also working with the MoPH to develop a surveillance
system for the monitoring of maternal deaths in recipient clinics.
Funding for maternal health programmes was provided by Norway
(US$180,000).

Food Security

9. WFP completed the first cycle of food distributions to 215,000
beneficiaries in 37 flood-affected counties in the second week of
September. More than 5,500 tonnes of food commodities were dispatched by
rail and road. The second cycle of food distributions consisting of some
4,800 tonnes of cereals began in mid-October. Delays with some food
commodities have led to slight distribution delays to some counties.

10. The first round of monitoring visits to 18 flood-affected counties
on the east coast took place between 5-14 September. Monitoring of the
remaining 19 counties on the west coast is currently underway and will
be completed by early November. In total, all flood-affected counties
targeted for WFP food aid will be visited three times during the
four-month duration of the emergency operation.

11. WFP food assistance to the flood-affected population was
well-funded, with the US$ 5.1 million operation fully funded within
weeks of the Flash Appeal's launch. However, an additional US$17.4
million is needed before the close of WFP operations in August 2008.

Agriculture and livelihoods

12. CERF funding (US$ 600,000) is being used to procure seeds,
fertiliser and plastic sheeting. Items are expected to arrive before
December in order for land to be prepared for planting in February 2008.
Soybeans and maize were harvested. Paddy rice and autumn cabbage
harvesting is underway.

Education

13. Procurement of stationary and recreational kits is underway.
Procurement of furniture was delayed by limited capacity among local
suppliers. Recent field visits carried out by UNICEF suggest that
limited progress has been made in the reconstruction of school
buildings.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

14. The DPRK Flash Appeal for USD 14.1 million is now 80 per cent
funded, with a further USD 1.1 million in unconfirmed pledges.

15. For additional updates, please refer to the OCHA Financial Tracking
Service (FTS) at http://reliefweb.int/fts.

For detailed information please contact:

Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok:

Mr. Markus Werne
Mob. +66 81 917 8940
Tel. +66 2288 2558

Ms. Amanda Pitt
Mob. +66 81 374 1035
Tel. +66 2288 1195


Desk Officer:
(NYC) Mr. Ivan Lupis, Tel. +1 917 367 5286

Press contact:
(NYC) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Tel. +1 917 367 5126
(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Tel. +41 22 917 2653

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