The World Vision Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs team currently in North Korea has delivered medical supplies to two hospitals this week in response to August's devastating floods.

The supplies of paracetamol and saline solution are the first of the medicines brought in on a relief flight from Singapore that arrived just before the team entered DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea).

The medicines, listed by the DPRK government as their most urgent need, are being used to treat illnesses brought about by the severe floods that hit the North last month. That flooding was the worst experienced by North Korea in years.

The team is also carrying out field assessments to determine the current and long-term needs of those affected.

The team inspected Ministry of Health storage facilities in the capital Pyongyang where the medicines have been stored since their arrival from Singapore.

President of recipient hospital Pyong-song City Hospital Mr Rim Hyon Kim said: "We thank World Vision for the medicines they have provided and we will use them especially to care for children."

An earlier distribution of 2,000 of the 3,000 vaccines provided by World Vision Canada for diptheria and typhoid took place on World Vision's behalf on September 2 by government officials to the four counties of Sinyang, Yamcho, Mengsang and Dochang in the province of Pyong-gan, 500 doses to each county. Another 1,000 are being reserved for future need.

The flooding affected close to one million people and displaced nearly 170,000. The government reports the death toll at 454 people, with over 4,351 people injured, some 40,463 houses destroyed and 67,056 badly damaged.

Health remains a key issue. Many have been left with broken bones and head injuries from collapsing buildings. Diarrhea and respiratory problems caused by the flood waters are also common.

Jaap Timmer of the Red Cross in Pyongyang, told Victor Hsu, WV North Korea National Director and part of the team, that 30% of the health infrastructure in DPRK had been affected with buildings and medicines damaged.

Food and water remain scarce with the already crumbling infrastructure hard hit by the August storms. The government has reduced food rations following the destruction of wide swathes of crops just before harvest season.

The city of Pyong-song, which normally consumes 1,500 metric tonnes of food grains per month, has had this ration slashed to 570 metric tonnes after flood waters damaged central grain stores. With around 1,000 hectares of local farming land damaged, Pyong-song is also going without the fresh food - pumpkin, cabbage, potato and rice - usually available.

On Monday (Sept 10) Mrs Han, the Chairwoman of the Peoples Committee of Pyong-song, told the team about the needs of the city, which is some 30km north of the capital.

She said: "This is the biggest disaster we have ever seen. Our life before the disaster was quite simple but now it has become much worse. As the chairwoman for the county I feel responsible for not being able to provide what people need. That is why we are so grateful to World Vision's support now and even before the disaster.

She explained how many had rushed to the local hospitals for shelter and treatment as their homes crashed down around them. Many buildings, schools, hospitals and homes were made from mud and were easily damaged.

At one point up to 4,000 children were reportedly housed at the City hospital, many sleeping two to a bed or on the floor, while the staff struggled to treat patients and relocate those in need of shelter or more advanced care.

Mrs Han said 5,000 families (20-25,000 people and 6,000 children) were affected in Pyongsong (a city of around 100,000 people). Many were now living with neighbours or in temporary shelter arranged by the government. Seven schools which had been closed due to damage have now reopened, allowing children to return to some normalcy. But with families losing not just homes but also livelihoods, emotional strain was high.

Mrs Han also reported that some children have been orphaned with many taken to the local orphanage/children's centre where there were serious food shortages due to crops being destroyed at this key harvesting time. The cutting of rations has also affected this centre, causing undernourishment in children there. With winter coming many were already suffering from colds and chest infections.

The city's water supplies have also been halted after the reservoir broke its banks and the pipeline and pumping system powering the supply collapsed. The supply of clean, safe water for people to drink and cook is already a huge problem in N Korea.

Mrs Han explained that cement and steel were essential supplies needed for the long-term reconstruction of infrastructure and buildings.

The team saw damaged roads and bridges, homes reduced to rubble, drains overflowing with debris.

Victor said: "It is difficult to determine whether the current problems are not just due to the recent flooding but also due to the chronic underlying state of the country."

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The team is scheduled to depart DPRK on Thursday. To arrange media interviews, call:

James East, Regional Communications Director, World Vision Asia-Pacific James_East@wvi.org Cell: +668 9812 1402