The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Seoul's Red Cross to provide US$100,000 for flood-hit N. Korea

By 윤민식

Published : Aug. 16, 2013 - 09:16

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The Korean Red Cross plans to provide North Korea with an emergency fund of US$100,000 to help flood victims in the communist country, an official from the organization said Friday. 

"The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has asked for our participation in supporting the flood-hit North Korea," the official said.

"In accordance, we've decided in humanitarian terms to send $100,000 to the IFRC to provide the victims there with relief goods." he added.

The money, which comes from the Korean Red Cross' own funds reserved for inter-Korean exchanges, is expected to be transferred to an IFRC bank account next week, according to the official. 

The IFRC data showed that torrential rains since early July have caused extensive flooding and landslides across the impoverished communist country, killing 33 people and injuring 2 others with 18 still missing. An estimated 4,000 families have lost their homes and 50,000 have been displaced.

The international agency said earlier this month that it has allocated 299,744 Swiss franc to help the North Korean victims, with their relief operation to continue until the end of October.

Last year, the Korean Red Cross provided Pyongyang with $100,000 to help those who suffered from heavy precipitations. (Yonhap News)