Skip to main content
Tags: north korea | flooding | red cross

North Korea Flooding Prompts Red Cross Appeal

North Korea Flooding Prompts Red Cross Appeal

This photo shows a woman who lives in a tent in 2012 in a village in Songchon County in South Phyongan Province, North Korea, which was devastated by torrential rain and subsequent floods in July. (Kyodo via AP Images)

By    |   Tuesday, 04 October 2016 08:53 AM EDT

North Korea flooding caused by heavy rains from Typhoon Lionrock in late August has led to an appeal by the Red Cross last week.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies issued a statement Friday that said that about 600,000 people in North Korea are thought to be directly affected by the floods across six counties in North Hamgyong province.

The floods damaged and destroyed 30,000 homes, leaving 70,000 people homeless, according to the Red Cross.

"Urgent action is needed before the first snows fall," Chris Staines, head of delegation with the International Federation of the Red Cross in North Korea, said in the statement. "Last year that was in third week of October. People lack proper shelter, clothing and other basic items to stay warm and healthy through the winter."

Only a handful of outside aid organizations remain in North Korea after some left the closed communist

nation in recent years, The New York Times reported

. The United Nation's World Food Program delivered assistance to more than 140,000 people, including fortified biscuits and beans.

"(The World Food Program) is concerned about the continued vulnerability of these people as the extremely cold winter is approaching, and major food losses are expected," the program said, according to the Times. "People are in urgent need of shelter, access to clean water and health services, as well as food and nutrition assistance."

North Korea confirmed to aid agencies that 133 people have been killed and another 395 remain missing, the Times noted.

"Everywhere you go people are clearing up the debris left behind, salvaging bricks and timber and building temporary shelters," Patrick Elliott, a delegate of the International Federation of the Red Cross, said in its statement. "Access to many affected areas remains a challenge, thousands of people are working to clear and repair the roads by hand.

"In some villages the damage is extreme. We travelled for almost two hours down the Tumen River from Hoeryong City and found a village where 300 houses had been swept away when the river burst its banks. Only 100 homes remained," Elliott added.

The Korean Central News Agency, North Korea's official state media, reported that the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea had sent a public appeal to party members and service personnel of the Korean People's Army to help those in the worst-hit regions, CNN noted.

The party redirected a nationwide 200-day mass mobilization campaign targeting the economy toward helping flood victims, according to CNN.

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


TheWire
North Korea flooding caused by heavy rains from Typhoon Lionrock in late August has led to an appeal by the Red Cross last week.
north korea, flooding, red cross
418
2016-53-04
Tuesday, 04 October 2016 08:53 AM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved