OCHA Situation Report No. 14
DPR Korea: Floods
6 November 2007


This report is based on information from UN Agencies, IFRC, Programme 
Support Units (PSUs), the Government of the Democratic People's Republic 
of Korea, and OCHA ROAP. These situation reports are now issued every 
two weeks.

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. At least 454 people were reported 
dead and 156 people missing. The Government reported more than 40,000 
houses completely destroyed, with a further 200,000 submerged or badly 
damaged. Thousands of schools, hospitals and other public buildings were 
destroyed or badly damaged. At least 10 per cent of agricultural land 
was 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.

3. Nearly three months on, diarrhoea is still being reported as the main 
health problem for flood-affected communities during field visits by 
humanitarian actors, due to the disruption of water supplies in affected 
areas. However, the Ministry of Public Health is reporting that the 
situation is returning to normal, and surveillance, treatment, and 
prevention activities by GoDPRK and international partners continue 
under the emergency projects.

4. Post-reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts have been led by the 
Government of DPRK, with major mobilization of manual workers observed 
in some flood-affected counties. The remaining housing and 
infrastructure repairs are due to be completed by the end of November, 
according to local officials.

5. Coordination meetings continue in all response sectors, but many are 
now being held every two weeks, rather than on a weekly basis. 
Monitoring of all response interventions also continues.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

6. Local officials interviewed by WFP during field trips to 
flood-affected areas indicate that reconstruction after the floods is 80 
to 100% completed, with the remainder due to be finished by the end of 
November. This work includes repair/rehabilitation of damaged 
infrastructure, like roads and bridges, as well as new houses to 
accommodate families made homeless by the floods. County authorities 
have received reconstruction materials from the Government, some of 
which have been provided by Republic of Korea, to assist with the 
rehabilitation.

7. WFP staff have observed reconstruction efforts underway with large 
manual workforce mobilization in some of their target counties. 
Simultaneously, there still exist in some flood-affected areas 
households living in temporary shelters nearly three months after the 
floods. Officials in a large number of counties expressed a desire for 
WFP to support rehabilitation and recovery through food-for-work 
schemes.

COORDINATED IN-COUNTRY RESPONSE

Coordination and monitoring

8. Additional staff are currently supporting both WFP and UNICEF (WFP 
Logistics Officer for commodity tracking, UNICEF Reports/Communication 
Officer, two UNICEF Water and Sanitation engineers) for 2-3 weeks. 
Additional short-term visas have been confirmed for a UNICEF Health and 
Nutrition specialist and for a UNFPA Beijing-based staff member to 
monitor December distribution of UNFPA supplies. The number of 
international staff will be reduced to pre-flood numbers soon, as the 
Government has agreed to these additional staff members for the 
emergency response period only.

9. Meetings are held between the RC ai and national counterparts at the 
National Coordinating Committee, although participation by national 
authorities is lower now than compared with the early stages of the 
emergency response. Observations from the field are shared between 
international aid providers in the regular sectoral meetings and shared 
with the broader resident international community in weekly inter-agency 
meetings, but comprehensive official information on the national 
response has not been made available.

10. A UNCT Emergency Preparedness and Planning workshop is currently 
being discussed, with the support of OCHA ROAP. The option of organizing 
such a workshop jointly with the GoDPRK is still under consideration.

11. Monitoring continues to be carried out by sector partners and - 
where possible - in the field among sectors.

Health and Nutrition

12. Distribution plans of medicines and medical supplies are being 
closely coordinated among health cluster partners, and information from 
two non-resident NGOs is also reflected in the sector geographical 
distribution matrix to avoid overlapping. Sector meetings have been 
convened on a weekly basis with the participation of a national 
counterpart from the Ministry of Public Health; it has now been agreed 
to shift to a fortnightly meeting.

13. Monitoring activities are regularly carried out and show that the 
aid is reaching the targeted health facilities, with estimated coverage 
of over 5.5 million of population in flood-affected areas. However, SDC 
reports that although an SDC-donated Inter-agency Emergency Health Kit 
reached the targeted county (to Singye County in North Hwanghae 
province) it had not yet been distributed further. Given the large 
amount of supplies, many agencies (IFRC, UNFPA, UNICEF & WHO) are also 
supporting the MoPH logistics capacity to expedite delivery of supplies 
to targeted sites.

14. Coordination challenges include scarce information on bilateral aid, 
delayed information on disease surveillance, delayed funding, and a 
shortage of emergency health supplies on the international market. The 
latter has caused delays in procurement, which in turn affects emergency 
distribution.

15. MoPH disease surveillance teams suggest that there was an increase 
in the number of respiratory tract infections and skin diseases after 
the floods, as well as 30-40% increase in diarrhoeal diseases. So far 
the MoPH has provided disease surveillance data only for the period 10 
August-10 September and only covering 3 affected counties in 3 different 
provinces: Ichon - Kangwon province; Unchon - South Hwanghae; and 
Pyongsan in North Hwanghae. The data also shows a substantial increase 
in the number of diarrhoeal diseases (around 40%), which was expected 
due to the widespread damage to water systems, and some increase in the 
number of respiratory tract infections and skin diseases. The MoPH and 
local authorities now report that the diarrhoeal situation is returning 
to normal standards, and MoPH disease surveillance continues.

16. Diarrhoea has been reported as the main health problem affecting 
flooded counties through sector partner field visits. Though the 
situation is now improving, diarrhoea remains one of the main causes of 
disease and malnutrition for children under 5. As part of the floods 
response, UNICEF is working with the MoPH and other agencies to prepare 
a nationwide campaign on diarrhoea prevention and control during the 
upcoming Child Health Day on November 22. Families with children under 5 
will receive health education on diarrhoea prevention, including IEC 
materials and ORS and zinc tablets to treat diarrhoea at home before it 
becomes too serious. UNICEF is using CERF funding for the campaign in 
order to procure ORS, zinc tablets, soap and to print leaflets on 
diarrhoea prevention and the use of zinc and ORS. These are expected to 
be delivered by mid-November.

17. In consultation with sector partners and the GoDPRK at the end of 
September, UNICEF agreed to provide top-up supplies of essential 
medicines to deal with the increased disease burden to flood affected 
counties in 3 provinces (North Hwanghae, South Hwanghae and Kangwon) 
which had not been covered by large scale IFRC health assistance. The 
top-up consists of an additional 1,333 essential medicine kits to which 
a further procurement of 1.9 million zinc tablets was added for 
diarrhoea treatment; total population covered will be over 4.5 million 
people. The distribution of these top-up medicines is ongoing and is 
expected to be completed by November 10: however, distribution has been 
hampered by logistical and transport issues such as a shortage of 
trucks.

18. Data collection from the MUAC (Middle Upper Arm Circumference) 
Nutrition Rapid Screening of children under 5 in the 19 worst affected 
counties was completed in mid-October. A total of 3,800 children were 
measured. UNICEF reports that MoPH is expected to share its report and 
the raw data early next week, which will then be analyzed and verified 
in the coming weeks with the support of a nutritional epidemiologist 
based in Beijing.

19. Debriefing of teams on their return from the field confirmed that 
the MUAC screening had proceeded well and that caregivers were 
particularly engaged as they received an immediate feedback on the 
health of the child. In addition to existing hospital treatment with 
therapeutic milk, a UNICEF HQ Nutrition advisor supported UNICEF DPRK 
and MoPH staff in developing a protocol and plan for treatment of 
malnourished children in their community through the use of 'Ready to 
Use Therapeutic Food' (RUTF) nutritional paste. The nutritional paste 
protocol allows families to rehabilitate the child at home, and a system 
for active screening at the Ri clinic to identify children in need of 
treatment at an early stage is also planned. An initial 52 MT of 
nutritional paste for treatment of moderate and severe malnutrition are 
already in country and are currently being distributed to flood-affected 
counties.

20. IFRC is conducting a rapid assessment of 200 flood damaged health 
facilities in areas supported by IFRC. The MOPH will undertake the 
physical rehabilitation while IFRC will provide medical equipment and 
furniture to these facilities as per its revised appeal

21. The Government is leading on physical repairs to health facilities. 
While field visit observations have been noted of some repair works, no 
comprehensive official information on scope and quality is available. 
WHO will support rehabilitation of selected ri level health facilities.

22. Numerous Health and Nutrition sector activities are ongoing in terms 
of delivery and distribution of medical, reproductive health, and 
hygiene kits, as well as various procurements in the pipeline and 
monitoring visits: please see table in the accompanying attachment.

WASH

23. The Water and Sanitation sector includes partners operating outside 
the Appeal (EUPS 3, 5 and IFRC, in addition to UNICEF and EUPS 2). 
Information on all partners' interventions (type, quantities of supply 
and geographical distribution) is also captured in a matrix, which is 
regularly updated. Until recently the group met on a weekly basis, but 
decided that meetings will now be held fortnightly.

24. With technical support from UNICEF, the Ministry of City Management 
(MCM) conducted a detailed assessment of the damage to pump-based water 
supply systems (pumps, motor and transformers) in the 26 worst-affected 
counties. The preliminary results compiled by GoDPRK indicate a number 
of pumps. Motors, and transformers either damaged or washed away, 
including nearly 100 km of water supply pipes.

25. The results of the survey are currently being verified by two 
international electro-mechanical engineers. In addition to the field 
monitoring by the UNICEF Water and Sanitation Specialist, a total of 8 
out of the 26 counties have been monitored. The monitoring visits 
confirm the results of the Ministry assessment and the two engineers are 
now preparing a detailed list of spare parts, which will be procured for 
repairs in early 2008. In the meantime, an initial order of spare parts 
has arrived in-country and will be distributed to selected counties.

26. The engineers are also preparing a modular design for an emergency 
pump-based system, which would be constructed in counties where pump 
stations have been washed away or are beyond repairs. The number of such 
systems will depend on funding available after the procurement of spare 
parts. Based on the assessment, UNICEF will prepare a proposal to be 
submitted to donors for a second phase of emergency rehabilitation of 
water supply systems in selected counties in 2008.

27. During field trips it has been noted that provisional but not 
sustainable repairs to some pumps have been made locally. Following, the 
engineers are making recommendations on how to proceed to ensure a more 
durable rehabilitation.

28. Soon after the floods, UNICEF dispatched pre-positioned water kits 
for 5,000 families in 5 provinces. The distribution was complementary to 
IFRC supply of over 22,000 household kits to homeless families in the 
weeks following the floods. The delivery of UNICEF kits to 20 counties 
was confirmed through several monitoring trips by UNICEF staff. 
Additional water purification tablets to cover the needs of 30,000 
families over one month were procured. However due to the parallel 
distribution of calcium hypochlorite, it was decided to keep these 
tablets as emergency preparedness stocks for future emergencies. In 
relation to water purification tablets field observations have shown 
that some families are not using the tablets due to the strong chlorine 
taste.

29. To replenish emergency preparedness stocks, water kits for 10,000 
families have been ordered and are due to arrive in country in mid 
November. These will complement the replenishment of household kits of 
the National Red Cross Society by IFRC. To strengthen emergency 
preparedness in water, IFRC is also procuring additional items such as 
water tanks and mobile water filtration units and UNICEF plans to keep a 
stock of spare parts to repair pump based systems in case of future 
floods.

30. As part of the response to the floods, 100 MT of calcium 
hypochlorite procured by UNICEF has been distributed nationwide to 89 
counties to cover two months of water chlorination for a population of 
5,350,000 people. An additional 100 MT procured by IFRC is being 
distributed to affected counties in 3 provinces (South Phyongan, North 
Pyongan, South Hamgyong) to cover an additional period of 6 months for 
chlorination. In addition to these distributed amounts UNICEF - in 
consultation with government and other partners in the Water and 
Sanitation coordination working group - has ordered an additional 170 MT 
due to arrive at the end of November. It will be distributed to affected 
counties in the remaining 3 provinces (Kangwon, North Hwanghae and South 
Hwanghae) so as to cover chlorination for an additional 4 months.

31. In Yonggwang county, South Hamyong province, 18,000 people will 
benefit from the EUPS 2 pumphouse rehabilitation. Pumps were expected to 
arrive around 5 November, and pipes are expected in the week. The laying 
of pipes will begin this week as well and the construction works are 
expected to be completed by the end of November.

Food Security

32. Some limited quantities of the local harvest have started to feed 
into the Public Distribution Centres. County officials stated that it is 
difficult to quantify the crop losses due to the floods at this early 
stage of the harvest, but they expected the losses to be around 30-60% 
for both maize and rice. Though premature to quantify such losses, WFP 
and resident observers believe that such figures might be 
over-estimated.

33. The second cycle of WFP food distributions consisting of some 4,801 
tons of cereals began in mid-October. At the time of reporting, some 986 
MT had been distributed, with distributions this week taking place in 
Hwangju, Kumchon (N. Hwanghae province), Haeju City, Jaeryong (S. 
Hwanghae) and Suan (S. Hamgyong) counties. WFP international staff were 
present at the Public Distribution Centres to observe the distribution 
of food and conduct interviews with beneficiaries and local officials.

34. WFP and the Government have prepared distribution plans for a 
further 3,815 tons of cereals to be delivered to 17 counties on the West 
Coast throughout November. With this food, which is sufficient to feed 
177,000 beneficiaries for 50 days, WFP will have completed all food 
distributions under the EMOP. WFP international staff will monitor 
distributions; 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.

35. WFP was requested to provide assistance to 37 counties. It has good 
quality access in these counties (i.e. in term of access to county 
officials, to affected areas and to flood victims themselves). WFP 
continues to apply its principle of "no access, no assistance" 
consistently. The initial rapid assessment missions were conducted with 
WFP partners in all flood-affected counties and received effective 
facilitation from DPRK authorities at central and local levels. WFP was 
able to be present during food distributions in all counties and given 
ample room to observe the flood damage and talk to the affected 
populations.

Education

36. According to prioritization agreed by UNICEF with the Ministry of 
Education, the process of procurement of furniture of 13,105 sets 
benefiting 26,210 students has begun but is not yet finalized. The 
delivery of the supplies, (according to the supplier), is expected by 
between mid-December and mid-January 08: furniture provision accounts 
for 85% of the total education emergency response. Procurement of 
classroom stationery kits and school recreational kits has started and 
will cover all 35,000 children without classrooms and 261 damaged 
schools (official MoE data).

37. According to field observations, local authorities report that 75% 
of the damaged school buildings have been repaired or reconstructed 
however, in some areas the figures reported by People's Committees 
(local governments) differ from those officially reported by the MoE.

Agriculture

38. The main harvest of maize and rice has been completed with 
subsequent steps (such as drying, threshing, cleaning, transportation) 
continuing until November/ December. Official figures on rice and maize 
outputs are expected to be circulated only in February/March 2008.

39. Some of the harvest of autumn cabbage, used to make kimchi (a key 
food staple during the winter months), is under way. Soybeans and maize 
were harvested some time ago. In the counties monitored by WFP, the 
cutting had been completed and the crops were being brought in after 
drying in the fields.

40. Procurement has been initiated for barley seed, plastic rolls and 
fertiliser. These are expected to arrive in December latest, in 
readiness for Spring Crop 2008 land preparations in February. A 
distribution plan is to be prepared and follow-up visits conducted to 
beneficiary cooperative farms.

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

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=07179B9BF52334894925738C000122DA&file=Full_Report.pdf

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