North Korea Suffering from Heavy Rains and Flooding
- 14 years ago
And over to North Korea where rare footage reveals many are suffering from lack of water and food following floods in the region. South Korea has pledged $8.5 million in emergency aid.
In the aftermath of recent severe flooding in North Korea, many citizens are suffering from a lack of drinking water and food shortages.
Areas of the border town of Shinuiju damaged by the flood are shown in this rare video obtained by South Korean media from sources in North Korea.
The living conditions for victims of the floods appear dismal as they struggle to survive among their water damaged belongings.
Access to drinking water is scarce. The price of one bowl of water reportedly costs the equivalent of 10 cents - this in an economy where the usual monthly wages are about two U.S. dollars.
The source for this footage reported that residents of the area were complaining about the government and its inability to help them.
The heavy rains and floods in July and August severely hampered the country's food production - which already falls a million tons short of the needed amount even in a good year.
The North Korean government in Pyongyang has asked South Korea for rice aid and construction equipment to help them through the crisis.
So far, Seoul has offered to provide the equivalent of $8.5 million in emergency aid, including food and first aid materials, but the offer did not include the requested rice and construction equipment.
There has been a tense standoff between the two countries since the sinking of a South Korean navy ship in March, for which Seoul blames Pyongyang, but there are indications of a slight thaw in frigid ties between the two states technically at war.
In the aftermath of recent severe flooding in North Korea, many citizens are suffering from a lack of drinking water and food shortages.
Areas of the border town of Shinuiju damaged by the flood are shown in this rare video obtained by South Korean media from sources in North Korea.
The living conditions for victims of the floods appear dismal as they struggle to survive among their water damaged belongings.
Access to drinking water is scarce. The price of one bowl of water reportedly costs the equivalent of 10 cents - this in an economy where the usual monthly wages are about two U.S. dollars.
The source for this footage reported that residents of the area were complaining about the government and its inability to help them.
The heavy rains and floods in July and August severely hampered the country's food production - which already falls a million tons short of the needed amount even in a good year.
The North Korean government in Pyongyang has asked South Korea for rice aid and construction equipment to help them through the crisis.
So far, Seoul has offered to provide the equivalent of $8.5 million in emergency aid, including food and first aid materials, but the offer did not include the requested rice and construction equipment.
There has been a tense standoff between the two countries since the sinking of a South Korean navy ship in March, for which Seoul blames Pyongyang, but there are indications of a slight thaw in frigid ties between the two states technically at war.