N. Korea Shuns International Aid Following Floods

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has expressed grave concerns about the humanitarian situation in North Korea, following massive floods that have destroyed thousands of homes and inundated vast tracts of farmland.

According to a report from Voice of America, the floods have had a significant impact on the country, which has so far resisted international assistance.

The IFRC stated, "We are extremely concerned about the impact of the floods and are working closely with the Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to assess the situation."

The statement also expressed hope that with North Korea's recent reopening of its borders and increased international cooperation, the IFRC could re-establish a presence in the country.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in North Korea, Joe Colombano, affirmed the UN's readiness to return to the country to support Pyongyang in recovering from the flood damage.

"We are prepared to assist in long-term resilience efforts if the government requests it," he said on Thursday.

North Korea reopened its borders in August 2023, lifting the strict anti-pandemic measures that had been in place since 2020 and had halted all cross-border activities, including humanitarian aid. Despite this reopening, there are still no foreign aid workers in the country.

A visit by the head of the Food and Agriculture Organization to Pyongyang in July yielded no significant outcomes regarding aid.

The US State Department expressed hope on Thursday that North Korea would soon allow international humanitarian workers to return to the country. 

A spokesperson stated, "We continue to support international efforts to provide critical humanitarian assistance to North Korea."

The United States had provided $1 million in humanitarian aid to North Korea in 2017 following Typhoon Lionrock, which caused severe flooding the previous year. However, the US currently provides no aid to Pyongyang.

After heavy rains hit last week, North Korea mobilized officials and residents from various provinces to send relief materials, such as tents, blankets, clothing, and medical supplies, to the flood-affected areas in North Pyongan and Jagang provinces, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held an emergency meeting after inspecting the flood-affected areas in North Pyongan Province.

The floods submerged more than 4,100 homes and approximately 3,000 hectares of farmland in the cities of Sinuiju and Uiju near the Chinese border, according to KCNA.

KCNA also reported that North Korean military helicopters had rescued over 4,300 people from the flood-affected areas. However, North Korea has not provided estimates of casualties or injuries from the devastating floods.

Experts note that North Korea is prone to flooding due to heavy summer rains and a lack of adequate infrastructure to support proper drainage.

Voice of America reached out to North Korea's mission to the UN to inquire about the country's willingness to accept international aid for flood recovery but received no response.