Today the UK pledged £750,000 (almost $1.5m) to help survivors of August's floods, which have killed 450 people so far and left hundreds of thousands homeless. The funds will be used by Save the Children Fund, the World Food Programme and UNICEF to distribute food, clean water and safeguard people against water borne diseases.
The UK's contribution is in response to a UN Flash Appeal for $14 million and is aimed meeting the immediate needs of those affected.
The floods are reported to have affected close to one million people and displaced nearly 170,000 across the flood-affected provinces: Kangwon, North Hwanghae, South Hwanghae, South Hamgyong, North Pyongan, South Pyongan, Ryangang, and Jagang. Heavy rains from 7-14 August 2007 caused severe floods in nine provinces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, including the capital city, Pyongyang. There have been reports that the unusually heavy rains and subsequent floods have destroyed or badly damaged more than 8,000 public buildings, including thousands of schools and hospitals.
In the aftermath of the floods the Government of North Korea appears to be easing its restrictions to some extent, to enable better assessment and monitoring of how aid is being spent.
Funding breakdown
Save the Children Fund UK to receive £150,000 ($300,000) to provide essential healthcare support to 800,000 people in South Hamyong Province The World Food Programme to receive £250,000 ($500,000) to provide food to 215,000 flood affected people UNICEF to receive £250,000 ($500,000) to provide support for cleaner water and better sanitation for 30,000 families and 500 schools A further £50,000 ($100,000) is available to the UN office coordinating the relief effort in North Korea.