DPR Korea: Explosion in Ryongchon County - Apr 2004

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 185 countries.

In Brief

Appeal No. 12/2004; Final Report; Period covered: 26 April 2004 to 30 April 2005; Final appeal coverage: 101%.

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 183 countries.

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organisation and its millions of volunteers are active in over 181 countries.

- Survey indicates some improvement in the nutritional status of young children, but humanitarian assistance needs to be sustained

- 91% of appeal for the emergency programme in DPRK has not yet been funded

ISSUES FOR CHILDREN

Malnutrition

A report from the U.S. State Department submitted to Congress on April 15 shows that despite a 1995 cutoff of official aid to North Korea, some exceptions have been made.

The report noted the United States gave $242,000 in aid to help victims of the Ryongchon train explosion in the North last year. Of that, $100,000 went through the Red Cross, while the rest was sent directly as medical aid.

Through the World Food Program, America has donated 50,000 tons of grain from December to this month, costing $22.3 million.

I. Introduction and Background
Section 201 of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-333) requires the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in conjunction with the Secretary of State, to submit a report to Congress that describes, for the previous year, all activities to provide humanitarian assistance to North Koreans; any improvements in humanitarian transparency, monitoring, and access inside North Korea; and specific efforts to secure improved humanitarian transparency, monitoring, and access inside North Korea.

I. Introduction and Background

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organisation and its millions of volunteers are active in over 181 countries.

Focus on reconstruction of the polyclinic and the water supply

In Brief

Appeal No. 12/2004; Operations Update no. 08; Period covered: August - 30 December 2004; Appeal coverage:118.7%;

by Vedran Drakulic, of Australian Red Cross, in Ryongchon

"Our house was near the train station. We lost everything when it happened," said Jang Sun Im, holding a three-year-old daughter in her arms.

"But we are lucky that we survived, and that my relatives gave us shelter and support".

Jang Sun Im is a mother of two, a boy and a girl, and her home was obliterated by the train explosion in April 2004.

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organisation and its millions of volunteers are active in over 181 countries.
In Brief

Appeal No. 12/2004; Operations Update no. 07; Period covered: 20 August - 30 September 2004; Appeal coverage:117.7 %; (click here to go directly to the attached Contributions List, also available on the website).

Appeal history:

CAP 2005 and HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
During the month of August it was announced that the government would not participate nor support the CAP (Consolidated Appeals Process) document for 2005. On the 15th September, the FDRC Director for External Affairs, Mr. Jong Yun Hyong addressed the international aid community and explained why the Government had decided not to support a Consolidated Appeal for 2005. He cited the following reasons:

Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- Ceremonies of opening Ryongchon Primary School and Ryongchon College of Agriculture in the DPRK took place on September 1 amidst the blessing of people.

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarianorganisation and its millions of volunteers are active in over 181 countries.
In Brief

Appeal No. 12/2004; Operations Update no. 06; Period covered: 25 June to 20 August 2004; Appeal coverage: 115.7%.

Appeal history: Launched on 26 April 2004 for CHF 1,652,000 million (USD 1.25 million or EUR 1.06 million) for 12 months for 1,850 Families for 12 Months; Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 50,000.

South Korea has sent its last shipment of aid to help in the reconstruction of the city of Yongcheon in North Korea, the site of a massive rail explosion in April, the Korean National Red Cross announced yesterday.

A chemical blast at the town's train station devastated a large portion of the border city with China and claimed more than 160 lives with children accounting for most of the deaths.

The last aid ship carrying 150,000 square meters of waterproofing boards left Incheon yesterday for Dandong, China's port city near the border of North Korea, a Red Cross official …

PYONGYANG - The United Nations World Food Programme today welcomed the arrival of a major shipment of Russian food aid that will help support millions of malnourished children and women in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea over the coming weeks. The donation is the largest part of an $11 million dollar contribution by Russia, it's first ever through WFP.

FLOODS IN DPRK
The official KCNA news agency reported that torrential rains in July displaced 1000 families and destroyed some 100,000 hectares of paddy farmland, the equivalent of 4 per cent of the country's total arable land. This resulted in an estimated drop of 30 per cent of the harvest output. Floods are an annual hazard during North Korea's summer monsoon season, damaging crops and adding to the country's economic difficulties.

1. Outline of Accident

   April 22

   Train explosion occurred at Ryongchon station in the northern province of Pyongang, North Korea.

   - The explosion was caused by an electrical short-circuit during the track switching of wagons loaded with ammonium nitrate fertilizer and tanker wagons (April 24 Korea Central News Agency)

   - As of April 26, the extent of damages covers a radius of 1.5~2 km, and the depth of the blast goes 15m deep. The accident destroyed approximately 8,100 houses including 1,850 houses that totally collapsed and about 30 buildings.

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organisation and its millions of volunteers are active in over 181 countries.
In Brief

Appeal No. 12/2004; Operations Update no. 05;Period covered: 6 May-25 June, 2004; Appeal coverage: 69.9%.

Appeal history: Launched on 26 April 2004 for CHF 1,652,000 (USD 1.25 million or EUR 1.06 million) for 12 months for 2,000 Families (10,000 people) for 12 Months; Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 50,000.

DISCLAIMER: The following is a non-exhaustive selection of health-related events and WHO actions undertaken during the stated period in specific countries in which populations are experiencing crisis conditions. This has been compiled by WHO/Health Action in Crises (HAC/HQ) in Geneva, in consultation with relevant Country and Regional Offices. If you are a WHO staff member and wish to contribute to this update, please write crises@who.int.

Amount of decision: 1,250,000 euro