UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) recently announced that it is discussing providing relief supplies to North Korean authorities in response to the flooding in the Yalu River area caused by heavy rains.
Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that Roland Kupka, the acting representative of the UNICEF Pyongyang Office, responded to inquiries about whether North Korea had requested support for the flood damage in the Sinuiju area. He stated that UNICEF has supported North Korean authorities by pre-positioning water, sanitation, and health supplies to prepare for the rainy season.
He added that discussions are ongoing with North Korean authorities regarding the use of these supplies. He explained that the supplies are ready for use if the North Korean side requests them.
In 2011, during flooding in the Sinuiju area, UNICEF quickly distributed over 100,000 relief items pre-stocked in anticipation of an official request from North Korean authorities.
Similarly, in 2016, North Korea requested emergency support from international organizations following flood damage in North Hamgyong Province. At that time, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) each provided $500,000 in emergency aid for flood recovery in the area.
However, concerning the recent flooding recovery efforts in Sinuiju, a spokesperson for the FAO mentioned that North Korean authorities had not requested assistance. The spokesperson for the IFRC did not offer a response, according to RFA.
North Korean state media reported that on July 27, record rainfall caused significant flooding in the Sinuiju and Uiju counties. This affected over 4,100 households and nearly 3,000 acres of agricultural land, along with numerous public buildings, facilities, roads, and railways. The media also mentioned casualties but did not specify the numbers.