ID :
199307
Fri, 08/05/2011 - 12:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/199307
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Floods left 26 dead and 4 missing in N. Korea's southwestern province alone
By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, Aug. 5 (Yonhap) -- A recent powerful typhoon and heavy rain have left 26 people dead, eight injured or four missing in North Korea's southwestern province alone, an international relief agency said Friday, citing the North Korean government's data.
The figures by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) suggest that the total death toll could rise much higher in North Korea as other areas were also hit by the devastating floods in recent weeks.
The confirmed deaths occurred in South Hwanghae Province, which the North's state media said has suffered most seriously from the floods.
The North has recently said through its media that the typhoon and heavy rain have left dozens of people dead, injured or missing, without elaborating on the death toll.
The North has also said strong winds and flash floods destroyed 2,900 homes across the country, forcing more than 8,000 people to live in makeshift buildings.
The IFRC has said it allocated more than US$590,000 for emergency relief aid to help North Korea recover from its deadly floods.
North Korea has asked South Korea to provide food, cement and heavy construction equipment in response to Seoul's offer of 5 billion won (US$4.7 million) in emergency relief aid.
But South Korea spurned the North's request, reiterating that it would only send medical supplies and other necessities, including blankets and packs of instant noodles.
South Korea suspects that food aid could be diverted North Korea's elite and military, a backbone of the totalitarian rule of leader Kim Jong-il.
North Korea has been hit hard by floods in recent years, mainly because of its lack of investment in disaster control and severe deforestation.
SEOUL, Aug. 5 (Yonhap) -- A recent powerful typhoon and heavy rain have left 26 people dead, eight injured or four missing in North Korea's southwestern province alone, an international relief agency said Friday, citing the North Korean government's data.
The figures by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) suggest that the total death toll could rise much higher in North Korea as other areas were also hit by the devastating floods in recent weeks.
The confirmed deaths occurred in South Hwanghae Province, which the North's state media said has suffered most seriously from the floods.
The North has recently said through its media that the typhoon and heavy rain have left dozens of people dead, injured or missing, without elaborating on the death toll.
The North has also said strong winds and flash floods destroyed 2,900 homes across the country, forcing more than 8,000 people to live in makeshift buildings.
The IFRC has said it allocated more than US$590,000 for emergency relief aid to help North Korea recover from its deadly floods.
North Korea has asked South Korea to provide food, cement and heavy construction equipment in response to Seoul's offer of 5 billion won (US$4.7 million) in emergency relief aid.
But South Korea spurned the North's request, reiterating that it would only send medical supplies and other necessities, including blankets and packs of instant noodles.
South Korea suspects that food aid could be diverted North Korea's elite and military, a backbone of the totalitarian rule of leader Kim Jong-il.
North Korea has been hit hard by floods in recent years, mainly because of its lack of investment in disaster control and severe deforestation.
