IFRC downscales emergency appeal for flood victims in NK

The International Federation of Red Cross recently reduced an emergency appeal budget for flood victims in North Korea's Hamgyong Province in consideration of the North Korean government's support and inadequate international funding, a US broadcaster reported Friday.

More than 300mm of rain and Typhoon Lionrock smashed through the province in late August last year, triggering massive floods in the area. According to North Korean government data, the natural disaster left 138 people dead, 400 missing, and severely affected some 140,000 people there. Over 30,000 houses were damaged, submerged or completely destroyed, and about 70,000 people remain displaced.

This file photo, taken on Sept. 16, 2016, shows local efforts to recover from massive floods that hit Hamgyong Province. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
In the following month, the relief agency launched an Emergency Appeal for some 15 million Swiss francs (approximately $15 million) to support 28,000 people for 12 months. In January, it issued a revised appeal for some 7.42 million francs to help 330,000 people for 12 months.

In its second revision, released Wednesday, the agency curtailed the appeal budget again to 5.03 million francs for 110,000 people for 16 months, Radio Free Asia said.

"The revised plan reflects support already provided by the (North Korean) government to the affected communities, as well as limitations that have resulted from inadequate funding (from the international community)," the agency was cited as explaining about the reduction. (Yonhap)

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