The International Federation of the Red
Cross (IFRC) has issued a warning of possible flood damage in North Korea,
Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on July 18th.
Francis Markus, who represents the
organization in East Asia, told RFA that the North Korean meteorological authorities
have forecast significant flooding. He added that relief activities should be prepared.
The Red Cross held a two-day “2014
Disaster Preparedness Conference” in Pyongyang on July 9th and 10th to review national response plans with officials from the Ministry
of Health and Chosun People’s Army. The conference also included early warning
and evacuation training.
The international relief organization already has stores of equipment in seven key locations in North Korea. These contain enough tents, tarps, cooking equipment, and
hygiene products for immediate use by 10,000 people.
IFRC also has an overall “National Disaster
Response Team” and a “Regional Disaster Response Team” in each province to help
facilitate faster assessment of flood damage and help expedite the arrival of aid workers.
So far this year, the Red Cross has provided $5.6m USD in aid to North Korea, with $1.96m USD allocated to disaster
management.
