DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
FLOODS
DHA GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO.9
23 OCTOBER 1995
DHA RELIEF COORDINATION
1. DHA RELIEF COORDINATION TEAM, AFTER HAVING SPENT TWO DAYS IN GENEVA FOR BRIEFING, LEFT TODAY FOR PYONGYANG TO STRENGTHEN IN-COUNTRY RELIEF COORDINATION AND MONITORING CAPACITIES. TEAM WILL ARRIVE ON 24 OCTOBER AND SUPPORT DHA/UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE INITIALLY FOR THREE MONTHS. DHA TEAM, FINANCED BY SWISS GOVT, CONSISTS OF THREE EXPERTS IN EMERGENCY RELIEF MANAGEMENT, LOGISTICS, AND MONITORING. TEAM WILL CLOSELY LIAISE WITH UN AGENCIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ALSO INVOLVED IN RELIEF EFFORTS.
2. DHA, IN COOPERATION WITH UNDP IN DPRK AND CHINA, HAS COMMITTED ALL FUNDS BEING CHANNELLED THROUGH DHA TO PROCURE BLANKETS, QUILTS CLOTHING, AND KITCHEN UTENSILS LOCALLY OR FROM CHINA. FIRST TWO CONSIGNMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN HANDED OVER TO DPRK GOVT FOR DISTRIBUTION. REMAINING GOODS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE DELIVERED THIS WEEK.
RELIEF ACTIVITIES BY UN AGENCIES
3. FOLLOWING APPROVAL OF WFP EMERGENCY OPERATION (EMOP) ON 6 OCTOBER, WFP IS DISPATCHING FOUR-PERSON TEAM TO ASSIST IN PLANNING AND MONITORING OF FOOD AID ASPECTS OF EMERGENCY RELIEF EFFORTS. COUNTRY DIRECTOR IS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE ON 4 NOVEMBER. IN EMOP WFP APPEALS FOR USD 8.85 MILLION TO PROVIDE 20,250 TONS OF RICE AND 675 TONS OF VEGETABLE OIL, INCLUDING COSTS OF OCEAN TRANSPORT AND MONITORING/LOGISTICS SUPPORT. THIS IS TO COVER FOOD REQUIREMENTS OF 500,000 MOST AFFECTED PERSONS FOR 90 DAYS. EMOP OPERATION IS CONTINGENT ON DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS.
4. WFP HAS ALREADY PROCURED, WITH ITS ADVANCE ALLOCATION OF USD 50,000, 140 TONS OF RICE IN BANGKOK IN COLLABORATION WITH CARITAS. RICE IS BEING TRANSPORTED BY DPRK VESSEL FREIGHT-FREE AND IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON 12 NOVEMBER. IN ADDITION, WFP HAS DRAWN USD 2.2 MILLION FROM ITS INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY FOOD RESERVE (IEFR) TO COVER PROVISION OF 5,000 TONS OF RICE, EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON 20 NOVEMBER. IEFR FUNDS DRAWN ARE TO BE REPLENISHED BY DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS.
5. UNICEF HAS SO FAR ARRANGED, WITH ITS RE-PROGRAMMED COUNTRY PROGRAM FUNDS OF USD 250,000, PROVISION OF 250,000 SACHETS OF ORS AND 250 TONS OF CORN SOYA BLENDS. UNICEF PLANS TO SEND MISSION ON 6-10 NOVEMBER, FOLLOWED BY FIELDING OF PROJECT OFFICER FOR SIX MONTHS TO MONITOR OPERATIONS.
6. WHO HAS SO FAR DELIVERED SIX TONS OF MEDICINES AND IS ARRANGING TO PROVIDE FIVE TONS OF BLEACHING POWDER. WHO MISSION IS IN PYONGYANG UNTIL END OCTOBER FOR PLANNING OF NEXT BIENNIUM BUDGET, WHICH WILL COVER ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD VICTIMS.
7. UNFPA HAS DIVERTED USD 150,000 OF ITS ON-GOING COUNTRY PROGRAM FOR REHABILITATION OF HEALTH AND FAMILY CLINICS DAMAGED BY FLOODS.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
8. IFRC HAS PROVIDED BLANKETS AND QUILTS AND SENT TWO-PERSON DELEGATION TO MANAGE RELIEF OPERATIONS. MSF IS TO SEND TEN-PERSON TEAM TO MONITOR PROVISION OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
RELIEF NEEDS
9. AS STATED IN PREVIOUS DHA SITREPS AND UN APPEAL, DPRK GOVT STRESSES THAT FOOD IS PRIORITY CONCERN. WFP CONFIRMS THAT FOOD REQUIREMENTS OF VICTIMS HAVE NOT YET BEEN SUFFICIENTLY MET AND ASSISTANCE IS URGENTLY NEEDED.
UPDATE ON CONTRIBUTIONS
10. FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO AND CONFIRMED BY DHA SINCE SITREP NO. 8.
UN SYSTEM: UNICEF USD 250,000 DIVERTED FROM UNICEF COUNTRY PROGRAM WFP USD 2.2 MILLION DRAWN FROM INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY FOOD RESERVE (TO BE REPLENISHED WITH CONTRIBUTIONS/ PLEDGES) GOVERNMENTS CHINA RELIEF GOODS WORTH USD 3,610,716 (RMB YUAN 30 MILLION) FINLAND USD 22,727 (FIM 100,000) THROUGH DHA/WFP GERMANY BABY FOOD WORTH USD 68,027 (DM 100,000) IRELAND USD 50,000 THROUGH IFRC MALAYSIA USD 25,000 NETHERLANDS USD 62,893 (NLG 100,000) THROUGH NETHERLANDS RED CROSS SWEDEN USD 109,140 (SK 800,000) THROUGH UNICEF UNITED KINGDOM USD 39,605 (PDS STLG 25,000) THROUGH DHA (BRINGING TOTAL UK CONTRIBUTION THROUGH DHA TO USD 116,528). USD 39,065 (PDS STLG 25,000) THROUGH BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY/IFRC. NGO'S ROTARY INTL/ZH USD 5,000 THROUGH DHA.
11. DHA IS PREPARED TO SERVE AS A CHANNEL FOR CASH CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE USED DURING IMMEDIATE RELIEF PHASE. FUNDS ARE SPENT IN COORDINATION WITH RELEVANT ORGANIZATION OF THE UN SYSTEM. DHA PROVIDES DONOR GOVTS WITH WRITTEN CONFIRMATION OF UTILIZATION OF FUNDS CONTRIBUTED.
12. TRANSFERS OF FUNDS TO DHA SHOULD BE MADE TO DHA ACCOUNT NUMBER CO-590.160.1 AT SWISS BANK CORPORATION, CASE POSTALE 2770, CH-1211 GENEVA 2, WITH FOLLOWING REFERENCE: DPR KOREA - FLOODS, DHA-GENEVA.
13. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM DHA-GENEVA, AS INDICATED BELOW, OF BILATERAL RELIEF MISSION/PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE BY ITEM.
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DPR 310 KOR 95(1)
Assessment of Damage and Immediate Relief Requirements Following Floods
Preliminary Findings of United Nations Assessment Mission
Department of Humanitarian Affairs
12 September 1995
Introduction
1. This report has been produced following an assessment mission in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea which lasted from 29 August to 9 September 1995. The following United Nations entities participated with representatives in the assessment and have provided input for this report, which has been prepared under the auspices of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pyongyang, DPR Korea: The United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UN/DHA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
General Situation
2. The population of DPR Korea is 21.2 million people. They live in 9 provinces and 3 metropolitan areas. These twelve major administrative divisions are divided into 200 counties and 4,000 Ri's, the smallest administrative unit consisting of 450-500 families in rural areas.
3. Following three episodes of exceptionally heavy rainfall during the periods of 7 to 15 July, 26 July to 12 August, and 17 to 20 August 1995, the Government of DPR Korea reported that 145 counties and cities in eight provinces, or 75% of the country, had been affected by the floods. The Government estimated that 5.2 million people had been affected out of whom approximately 500,000 or 100,000 families, had lost their homes and been displaced. The floods had also caused severe damage to agricultural land and production, critical facilities such as hospitals and health center, water supply and other infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and irrigation system as well as to industrial facilities. Although it was initially believed that no lives had been lost, later the Government reported 60 to 70 casualties with more people missing and feared drowned. The Government estimates that the total cost of the damage caused by the floods to exceed 15 billion US dollars.
4. A breakdown of population and homeless people in the affected provinces is shown in annex 1 to this report. The Government has produced a detailed list of damage in all affected provinces. This list is available with DHA.
United Nations Assessment
5. In response to a request from the Government of DPR Korea, on 29 August 1995, a four-person United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team was dispatched by the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs, to assist in the assessment of the situation and to reinforce the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Pyongyang, DPR Korea. The UN Team was joined by representatives of WHO, UNICEF, WFP and FAO. With the participation of these agencies, United Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) was established in the Office of the Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative.
6. Between 1 and 6 September, the UN Team, accompanied by Government relief officials, visited affected areas in North Hwanghae, North Pyongan and Chagang provinces. The visited areas include the Amnok river basin along the Chinese border around the city of Sinuiju, the Chongchon river around the cities of Pakchon and Anju, the area South of Pyongyang around the cities of Pongean, Rinsan and Chonggye-ri.
7. In these areas, severe damage to agriculture, property and infrastructure had occurred. All of this has been in riverine valleys and on flood plains, the predominant geographic features of the affected areas. Up to 6 September, no damage to areas outside of this kind of topography (metropolitan areas) had been seen. In the riverine areas, damage was typical of flash flooding, in which some structures were severely damages and crops and livestock swept away. In some places, agricultural fields had been covered with several layers of sand and gravel. Small and medium scale irrigation and water storage systems had frequently been completely destroyed. In the floodplain areas, water had covered crops for long periods so that maize and other crops had been submerged, and rice grain had rotted. Structures in these areas had been less damaged and few animals had been lost.
8. The government appears to have responded quickly to the emergency. The armed forces had been mobilized to rescue people and transport them to safe areas. Temporary accommodation had been arranged and attention is being paid to providing food, clothing and safe water. Very few animals could be seen, but all villages were planting new vegetable gardens, and people were working either on reconstruction projects to restore priority communication links such as bridges, or on cleaning and repairing damaged houses and public buildings.
9. The damage recorded by the UN Team can be described in the following three categories:
a. immediate effects on the population who has lost its homes and been displaced by the floods, encompassing 100,000 households; b. damage to agricultural production estimated by the Government at 1.9 million tons lost; c. long-term effects on the economy of the country through the destruction of production facilities and infrastructure.
10. Of these categories, the mission focused its attention on the first two, with highest priority given to the relief requirements of the first category, the 100,000 families or approximately 500,000 people who are considered critically affected by the floods.
Shelter
11. Official figures indicate that a total of 96,348 houses have been damaged.
12. Depending on the local severity and nature of the floods, housing has been damaged in a number of ways. In the worst circumstances where dams had burst or flash flooding had occurred, entire houses and their contents have been washed away. In other areas houses have been submerged and some contents salvaged. The majority of the damage would appear to be due to the inundation of houses, causing water damage to structures and contents. Some of the more seriously affected areas were seen by the UN Team in Sinuiju and Uiji counties in N. Pyongan; in Rinsan, Unpa and Sinpyong counties in N. Hwanghae.
13. Affected populations are now sheltered in a number of ways. Some are reportedly billeted with relatives or other families; some are in public buildings such as schools. A number of homeless families are lodged in makeshift shelters made of plastic sheeting normally used for seed propagation.
14. The weather has remained warm since the period of the floods but is now beginning to cool into autumn. During the winter, from November through March, it will be extremely cold. Average temperatures during January, the coldest month, vary between minus 5 degrees Celsius and minus 20 degrees Celsius.
15. There is much local activity to reconstruct and rehabilitate dwelling houses although in some areas work was proceeding slowly. Unless some hardened or winterized shelter, warm clothing and blankets are provided immediately, some of the displaced population will suffer severely with the arrival of the cold season.
Water and Sanitation
16. The rural water supply is dependent on centralized pumping, purification and piped distribution systems that have been significantly disrupted. Government data includes mention of damage to 102 reservoirs and 2,804 pumping stations.
17. Although many households in the affected areas still had access to functioning hand pumps, the inundation of pit latrines, the establishment of temporary housing and the observed use of open water sources for washing and household drainage poses a threat to the cleanliness of the drinking water supply and there is a risk of diarrhoeal disease epidemics.
18. The government's current capacity to handle and epidemic of diarrhoeal disease is weak. The factory that produced oral rehydration solution was damaged and is currently idle. The Ministry of Public health advised that there is no significant reserve stock of ORS.
Food
19. According to Government statistics, the annual requirement for grains is stated to be 7,639,000 tons. Against this requirement there was a pre-flood estimate for 1995/96 crop production of 5,6665,000 tons, indicating an original (structural) deficit of some 1,974,000 tons (equal to approximately 25% of annual requirements or some 3 months supply for the entire country).
20. In the past, the structural deficit of some 1.97 million tons would have been partial covered by commercial food imports, including food (primarily wheat) obtained from the former USSR through commodity barter arrangements.
21. The Government estimates losses due to the 1995 floods at 1,901,000 tons (1,083,000 tons of rice and 818,000 tons of maize). The overall food shortfall (structural and emergency) for the new 1995/96 crop year is thus estimated to be of the order to 3,875,000 tons -- equal to half of annual grain requirements. The mission had no means to independently verify these national estimates.
22. The pre-flood estimate of grain output for the year (5,665,000 tons) appears to be in line with the trend of recent years and may possibly be slightly over trend (based on figures in the FAO "Food Outlook" for May/June 1995). A time series for grain production over the past five years (1990-94) has been requested, but not yet provided at the time of writing.
23. Of the total annual requirement of grain of 7,639,000 tons, 4,869,000 tons is for human consumption (64%), 1,200,000 tons is material for industry (16%) and 1,400,000 tons for animal feed (18%). The raw material for industry if primarily for production of special foods, including children's foods, maize oil and alcohol.
24. The DPR Korea Government's figure of 4,869,000 tons of grains for human consumption equates to 630 grams per capita/day (basing on population of some 21.2 million). This may be considered high by normal global standards, but may be partly explained by both the importance of grains in the overall diet and the higher energy needs of the population during the very cold winter.
25. The estimated overall food shortage (structural and emergency) of some 3,875,000 tons will be partially covered by imports of 893,000 tons (including donations of rice from Japan and South Korea, as well as commercial imports from Thailand), leaving a net estimated grains shortfall for the 1995/96 crop year of some three million tons -- equal to approximately 40% of the annual requirement for grains.
26. During the mission's field visits small areas of sorghum and millet could be seen in certain areas. These minor cereal crops do not appear to have been taken into account in the overall estimates of cereal production. They could have localized importance as a staple, as could other crops, such as sweet potatoes.
27. Although a systematic emergency nutritional assessment was not possible on any scale, the UN Team was able to observe young children in a variety of circumstances. Nutritional status of preschool-age children already marginal is aggravated by poor access to any foods other than maize in households or in nurseries and child-care centers that are normally responsible for feeding children. Health problems, especially respiratory illness, seemed also to be exacerbating nutritional status. The relatively few children in temporary housing observed by the UN Team were both wasted and stunted and thus at very high risk of more severe problems with the colder weather approaching, particularly should they be exposed to an infectious illness.
28. Children in the affected areas were eating a diluted porridge of whole grain maize. Maize flour or ground maize would normally be used, but flood damage destroyed electric lines that would power the mils. There was evidence that the whole-grain maize was poorly digested by some children, further reducing available calories. There is a chronic problem of inappropriate weaning food practices in the country now exacerbated by the household food insecurity and reduced access to health services in the flood affected areas.
29. A further concern for older children is the loss of stores of food held in schools for school feeding. Although many schools in the affected areas opened for the new school year on September 1, some of these schools were unable to provide a mid- day meal to students as they normally would.
Public Health
30. The impact of floods on the health of people usually comes in three phases. The first phase is in the immediate post- disaster periods, where the main problems are death and injury, although the levels of these are not usually very high. This period had well passed by the time the mission arrived. The second phase begins after three or five days and reaches a peak at about 10 days. It features diseases related to exposure (heat and cold), simple diarrhoea due to unsafe and inadequate water supplies, and ARI due to crowding in temporary or communal shelters. If water supplies have been polluted, serious water- and food-borne diseases such as dysentery, hepatitis, typhoid and cholera may also appear towards the end of this period in certain populations. Measles will also appear at this time if there is crowding, low immunity and significant levels of malnutrition. This phase was reaching its peak as the UN Team arrived, so causes of these diseases should have started to be reported during that week if they were going to appear, but this has not been the case.
31. The third phase begins after about two weeks and its very varied character and length, depending on the particular circumstances of the disaster, characteristics of the host population, the pre-disaster level of effective coverage of public health services, the prevailing climate and the environment. It features vector borne disease, exotic diseases and new cases of malnutrition, as well as continuing cases of diseases that appeared in phases one and two.
32. Given the complex situation existing in the country at the present time, it is impossible to predict with any degree of confidence the health problems that may arise in the coming months. In such cases, the priority is to ensure that epidemiological surveillance systems have the capacity to detect outbreaks as soon as they occur, and that managers have skills and resources to respond quickly.
Agriculture
33. According to the Government a total of 1.195 million hectares (ha) of arable land has been affected. Some of this land, due to a cover of sand and/or gravel or erosion of the top soil layer by water is irreversibly lost. This means that attempts will need to be done in order to increase the agricultural production of the remaining land in order to compensate for the loss in crop yields.
34. In terms of food the Government estimates a decrease in rice production of 1,083,000 tons, in maize production of 818,000 tons and a loss of grains in stock through the destruction of storage facilities of 626,200 tons.
35. While visiting directly flood affected areas, the UN Team has seen approximately 35 to 40% of the total agricultural area. The visited places in the North were the most extensively affected areas, while in the other regions the affected areas were more localized and smaller in size.
36. From the areas visited and seen, an attempt has been made to extrapolate the figures on losses to the total agricultural area in the country. The total losses are estimated to be between 1,075,000 and 1,450,000 tons of grain. These figures are based on an estimated 15-20% total crop loss of the total agricultural land in the country. Thus estimates are consistent with the information provided by the Government. The Government estimates losses of grain under storage at 626,200 tons.
37. The Government estimate of 1.2 million tons of rice loss in 1994 due to hail damage has undoubtedly a carry-over effect on the food availability of the "crop-year" 1994-1995.
38. Taking into consideration the recent grain imports of 850,000 tons, there will be a considerable food shortage for the "crop-year" 1995/1996 since the carry-over deficit from last year amounts to 350,00 tons (Last year's loss of 1.2 million tons less import of 850,000 tons).
Education
39. The DPRK has universal compulsory 11-year education. The government estimates that of about 16,000 kindergartens, some 4120 were seriously damaged by the flood, as well as about 2290 of 4956 primary schools and 2290 of 4809 secondary schools. (In many counties the primary and secondary schools share the same building.) This damage to buildings alone is valued by the government at about USD 104 million. In addition, the government estimates that about USD 7.2 million worth of school supplies and equipment was destroyed.
40. The new school year began on September 1, during the UN Team's visit. Many schools in affected areas reopened in spite of the losses suffered. The UN Team did not generally question local school officials on its visits.
Emergency Relief Requirements
41. The most important areas for international attention are the immediate welfare of the critically affected population of 100,00 families including the food situation and the restoration of essential services, such as in the medical sector.
42. As a first response to this emergency, and until a more detailed assessment can be carried out in the various sectors that have been affected by the floods, the United Nations recommends the provision of immediate assistance in the following sectors in line with the assessment results as described above.
Shelter
43. The Government has expressed a commitment to provide housing for all homeless before winter arrives. However, international assistance is required in providing winter clothing, warm blankets, quilts and family kits. The Government has also requested fabric to produce the required clothing articles in DPRK. These articles are not available on the domestic market but articles appropriate to DPR Korea conditions can be procured in China.
Water and Sanitation
44. It is assumed that there has been same contamination of the piped water supply in both urban and rural settings in the affected areas. The government has requested chlorine for treatment of water destined for household use.
Food
45. Food is in short supply, as there was a deficit in the grain harvest in 1994 and rice is being imported from Japan, Republic of Korea, and Thailand at the present time. Of all requirements stemming from this emergency, the Government is giving highest priority to food (grain such as rice, etc).
46. In addition to staple foods for the entire population, young children are a vulnerable group with respect to food. Their need for higher-quality, micronutrient- and energy-dense foods is a high priority.
47. As already noted, the government reports that many schools lost their food stocks for the beginning of the new school year. The estimated shortfall is about 26,000 tons of rice, based on a ration of 200 grams per meal per child.
Public Health
48. The capacity of the MoPH is severely stretched and they have inadequate experience of emergency management on such a scale. WHO must provide managerial and technical support as a matter of priority for at least one or two months. International relief may reach the country in large amounts and WHO support to the Resident Coordinator is vital.
49. Technical support is needed urgently in nutrition, sanitation, CDD, epidemiology and laboratory services. WHO/SEARO Regional Advisors should be made available to the MoPH as soon as possible.
50. Epidemiological surveillance is extremely important in any disaster situation, but especially where the expected morbidity is difficult to predict. Specific data is needed from sentinel sites, and surveys in nutrition, eater quality, vectors and selected morbidity indicators. The MoPH will need assistance in setting up this system, but it seems that they have the manpower and structure to implement through the Country Hygiene Stations.
51. Parallel to this, reference laboratories need to be established a key points in the affected areas so that suspected cases of diseases significant to public health can be confirmed or excluded. The MoPH will need assistance in selecting, equipping and managing these laboratories, as well as in transporting specimens. Again, Country Hygiene stations would be responsible for implementing this activity.
52. Measles is likely to be a problem despite the reported high coverage levels. For a target population of 500,000 homeless people, 100,000 doses for all affected under 5's would be needed. Consideration of vaccinating children in contagious affected areas will also need an assessment.
53. Emergency water supply seems to be under control in the rural areas that were observed by the mission, although considerable reconstruction is needed to damaged systems. The government has estimated damage to water supply systems at USD 4.9 million, mostly to mains and distribution pipes. They have not requested any additional chlorine beyond that originally provided by WHO or pumps for tube well at this stage. As time passes and if normal water supply systems are not resumed, there will be less capacity to maintain emergency supplies and water quality and quantity will deteriorate. Water borne diseases will become a problem. The need for ORS will be great. The Government has requested 3 million packets which will last a few weeks if there are significant numbers of episodes of diarrhoea per person per week.
54. Nutrition will be the major health problem over the coming months. It is essential that a reliable and effective monitoring system be set up and be supported in-country by an international agency experienced in managing nutritional problems. Micronutrient deficiencies also need to be assessed and addressed as a part of this program. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested 50,000 tons of powdered milk for distribution to affected families. The need for an impact for supplying powdered milk will need careful review as part of a comprehensive nutrition program. Such a program would also need to address the long-term issues of nutrition in the country, since under- nutrition is a basic problem in rural areas.
55. Medicines are undoubtedly needed on an urgent basis. Appropriate medicines can be supplied adequately in the form of New Emergency Health Kits at the present time. If 500,000 people are the target group for emergency assistance, 17 kits per month would be needed, probably for at least three months. A more detailed evaluation of needs can be made once the production capacity of damaged factories has been assessed.
56. The requirements for medical supplies need to be carefully assessed, since the list provided by the MoPH does not cover any items that could reasonably be provided under an emergency assistance program. Detailed specifications have not been provided and will need to be collected if major donor intends to provide them as part of development assistance. If equipment is to be provided at this stage, it should be according to the standard equipment list of Ri clinics and Ri hospitals only.
57. The Governments of China and India could be approached to assist in providing emergency supplies of traditional medicines, once information has been provided to us on needs.
Relief Distribution
58. The Government has reported a serious shortage of fuel which, if not alleviated, will hamper distribution of relief from both port of entry as well as from food surplus to deficit areas. It will also slow down the restoration of critical facilities and infrastructure. This report has been substantiated by the limited presence of trucks and heavy machinery in the areas visited by the UN Team.. Therefore, provision of fuel may become a critical component for the emergency response to reach those in most need.
Agriculture
59. Immediate steps need to be taken to overcome immediate and long term food shortages. They will include supplies of fuel for the transportation and distribution of food as well as agricultural inputs for crops grown immediately after the flood damage and for the next growing season.
Education
60. The government has made an urgent request for paper for the reprinting of lost school text books, reference materials and notebooks by government printing facilities, which are not damaged. It has mobilized domestic resource for this task but estimates a shortfall of about 1000 tons of paper and 100 tons of manila paper to meet this need.
61. Of the above areas, THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHES HIGHEST URGENCY TO FOOD, SHELTER (clothing), AND HEALTH (medicines).
UNITED NATIONS INITIAL APPEAL Responsible Agency Total US$
UNICEF 4,462,000 WHO 2,000,000 WFP 7,250,250 DHA/UNDP 2,000,000 Grand Total 15,712,250
62. As an initial response and until further details are available for immediate to long term relied programs, United Nations agencies concerned will provide the following, subject to the availability of donor funding:
UNICEF
Immediate (3-month) relief requirements:
63. Supplementary feeding for young children in the most seriously-affected areas. It is estimated that about 100,000 families have been displaced or their homes destroyed. Approximately 11% or 55,000 of the population will be children aged less than five years. The proposed feeding supplement is corn-soya blend to be delivered through nurseries.
64. Measles immunization for under-fives. This should be implemented initially in the two worst-affected provinces, North Pyongan and North Hwanghae with total populations of 2.35 million and 2.4 million respectively with a total of approximately 650,000 under-fives. This immunization should be accompanied by vitamin A supplementation.
65. Ensuring that the Ministry of Public Health has the capacity and materials to respond to an outbreak of diarrhoeal diseases. This may include the provision of oral rehydration salts.
Supplementary feeding
Targeting under-five children in displaced families in affected areas:
150 grams x 55,000 children = 8.25 tons/day Initial supply for three months = 745 tons x $4.50/ton
$$335,250
Measles immunization
Targeting all under-five children in N. Pyongan and N. Hwanghae 650,000 doses of vaccine @ $1.50/10 doses $97,500
650,000 disposable syringes @ $0.10 each $65,000
650,000 vitamin A capsules @ $20/1000
$1,300
Oral Rehydration
To provide strategic reserve at province level 250,000 liters of ORS as strategic reserve @ $80/1000 $20,000
Sub total including freight and rounded $520,000
Supplementary feeding
Targeting half of under-five children = in affected areas 150 grams x 260,000 children = 39 tons/day Supply for six months = 6 x 1200 x $450/ton $3,240,000
Measles immunization
Targeting all under-five children with the exception of N. Pyongan and N. Hwanghae
2,600,000 doses of vaccine @ $1.50/10 doses $390,000
2,600,000 disposable syringes @ $0.10 each $260,000
2,600,000 vitamin A capsules @ $20/1000 $52,000
Sub Total $3,942,000
Oral Rehydration
Required According to Situation
Grand Total USD 4,462,000
WHO
66. WHO has already made USD 100,000 available for the immediate purchase of essential medicines and chlorine powder.
Essential medicines
50 health kits per month for 3 months at USD 10,000 per kit $1,500,000
Basic Medical equipment for 300 damaged PHC clinics USD 150 per clinic $45,000
Laboratory support
Reagents and equipment for 145 country labs at USD 550 per lab WHO expert for 1 week $80,000
Water and Sanitation
Chlorine powder and 2 WHO experts in CDD and water supply for 1 week each
$150,000
Surveillance systems and reporting (nutrition, water quality, vector control, morbidity)
Materials, training
WHO staff member for 1 week $75,000
Basic administrative and technical support to MoPh Paper, pens, etc. WHO staff member for 3 months $50,000
Traditional medicines Basic ingredients $70,000
Freight costs $30,000
Grand Total USD 2,000,000
WFP
67. As an initial response, it is recommended that the 500,000 people be assisted during the three months with a ration of 450 grams of rice and 15 grams of vegetable oil per capita/day. The list of these homeless/displaced people and their localities is reproduced in Annex 1.
68. It is understood that the Government of DPR Korea will cover all internal transport, storage and handling costs (ITSH) and will facilitate the unloading of vessels with waiving of all taxes, import duties, etc. The foodstuffs will be distributed to the targeted beneficiaries as listed in the Annex to this report.
69. WFP proposes to assign an international food monitor to DPR Korea for the duration of the operation (approximately 3 months) and the costs of the monitoring are estimated at some US$75,000 - - to include salary, DSA, international travel, internal travel, communication, office support, Headquarters support, etc. This represents some 1% of the total cost of the operation (which will be some USD 7,250,250 including monitoring costs).
70. It is anticipated that the rice will be purchased in South- East Asia ("indica" variety, some 35% broken). The vegetable oil should preferably be fortified with Vitamin A, to enhance the population's resistance against disease during the harsh winter months.
Cost estimates are as follows:
Rice
500,000 people x 450 grams/capita x 90 days = 20,250 tons Cost of procurement (FOB) @ US$275 per ton $5,568,750
Cost of sea shipment @ US$45 per ton $911,250
Subtotal of rice and sea shipment $6,480,000
Vegetable oil
500,000 people x 15 grams/capita x 90 days = 675 tons Cost of procurement (FOB) @ US$900 per ton $607,500
Cost of sea shipment @ US$130 per ton $87,750
Sub total cost of vegetable oil and sea shipment $695,250
Cost of monitoring $75,000
Grand Total $7,250,250
DHA and UNDP
71. Provision of blankets and family kits to the critically affected population will be carried out as a joint project through UN Resident Coordinator, Pyongyang, DPRK. Procurement in China, transport and delivery of these items will be carried out in close cooperation between UNDP DPR Korea and UNDP China. In an immediate response, 20,000 families in the most affected areas would be targeted at a cost of approximately USD 100 per family, including transport and support of procurement and monitoring. Subject to the availability of funds, this target group will be expanded.
Grand Total US$ 2,000,000
FAO
72. FAO participated in the DHA mission to prepare a preliminary assessment of the impact of the floods on the agricultural sector; considering the scope of the damages to the sector estimated by the Government to more than 5 billion dollar (e.g. 1 third of the total emergency requirements), FAO is fielding an Officer, from the Service for Special-Relief Operations, to prepare a comprehensive assessment of emergency needs for submission to the International Donor's community.
BREAK-DOWN OF FIGURES INTO PROVINCES
The provinces affected are South Pyongan, North Pyongan, Chagang, South Hwanghae, North Hwanghae, Kwangwon, South Hamgyong, North Hamgyong, and Ryanggang. Each province is divided into a number of counties and ri's (a ri usually more than one).
Province Inhabitants in damaged areas Homeless people (affected counties and ri's) South Pyongan 537,000 17,130 (20 counties, 226 ri's) North Pyongan 2,048,000 192,560 (24 counties, 394 ri's) Chagang 828,000 78,250 (18 counties, 208 ri's) South Hwanghae 482,000 4,635 (15 counties, 151 ri's) North Hwanghae 690,000 99,840 (14 counties, 143 ri's) Kwangwon 155,000 46,155 (12 counties, 126 ri's) South Hamgyong 80,000 4,050 (2 counties, 24 ri's) North Hamgyong 229,000 840 (8 counties, 62 ri's) Ryanggang 157,000 38,280 (7 counties, 57 ri's) Total 5,206,000 481,740 --