OCHA Situation report on DPRK train explosion

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OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Explosion in Ryongchon County
Occurred on 22 April 2004


The Government has formally requested international assistance.

Event and Impact

1. On Thursday 22 April 2004, at 1210 hrs local time (0310 UCT), two
train wagons carrying explosives detonated at Ryongchon Station,
Ryongchon Country, North Phyongan Province. Initial reports from
Government received today indicate that the accident happened during
shunting operations at the station. According to the Government the
explosives were enroute to a construction site for a large scale
irrigation project.

2. According to initial reports of the Governments Flood Damage
Rehabilitation Committee (FDRC) the explosion injured over 1,000
people. So far, 50 bodies have been recovered. These are initial
casualty reports and are subject to change.

3. The explosion reportedly caused major damage to housing and
infrastructure, including schools and medical facilities. Initial
reports from Government indicate that more than 1,800 dwellings have
been completely destroyed.

4. Following a request from the Government, an Inter-Agency assessment
mission to Ryongchon County is planned for Saturday, 24 April. The
mission will undertake an initial assessment of the damage.
Participants will include representatives from WFP, WHO, UNICEF, OCHA,
IFRC, ECHO, NGOs and representatives of the Diplomatic Community,

National and International Response

5. The National Red Cross has mobilized in response to the disaster.
Red Cross volunteers, working at the Red Cross Disaster Preparedness
Warehouse in Sinuiju, are currently preparing relief items for
distribution to the affected population in Ryongchon. Distribution of
items such as blankets, kitchen sets and plastic sheeting should start
as early as tomorrow. The Ministry of Public Health also responded to
the disaster by sending medical supplies from Pyongyang to Ryongchon
County early this morning.

6. The in-country UNICEF, WHO, and IFRC have reallocated medicines and
medical supplies from existing programmes to meet some of the
immediate needs. It is expected that these items will be delivered to
Ryongchon County tomorrow. The value of these items is over US$150,000
and includes medical kits for a county hospital, essential medicines
and IV fluid.

7. A formal request for international assistance in response to the
disaster was received by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator
in Pyongyang this afternoon from the Government.

8. In addition to the assistance already being dispatched to the area,
WFP has sufficient food in-country to meet the immediate food needs of
the affected population. Where possible, identified needs will be met
with resources available through existing in-country programmes. A
decision on whether or not to appeal for additional assistance will be
made following tomorrows initial assessment mission to the affected
area.

9. OCHA is prepared to field a United Nations Disaster Assessment and
Coordination (UNDAC) Team and to provide an emergency grant upon
request. Several international search and rescue teams are available
for deployment if required. OCHA is in contact with its Office in
Pyongyang, and will revert with further information, as it becomes
available.

10. This situation report, together with further information on
ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone:
+41-22-91712 34

Fax:
+41-22-917 00 23

E-mail:
och...@un.org

In case of emergency only:

Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers in Gva:



Mr. S. Nakajima
Direct Tel. +41 22 917 4034

Mr. R. Mena
Direct Tel. +41 22 917 1455

Press contact: (GVA)

(N.Y.)

Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Direct Tel. +1-212-963-8740

Recent Situation Reports

Democratic Republic of Congo - Humanitarian Crisis OCHA Situation
Report No. 2, 21 April

Russian Federation- Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 1, 21 April
Kyrgyzstan Landslides OCHA Situation Report No. 1, 20 April
Democratic Republic of Congo - Humanitarian Crisis OCHA Situation
Report No. 1, 17 April

Namibia -
Caprivi Flooding
OCHA Situation Report No. 9, April 2004

Haiti - Socio-Political Crisis
Situation Report No. 9, 7 April OCHA

Madagascar - Cyclone Gafilo OCHA Situation Report No.6, 29 March
_________________________________________________________________

Other UN News Links

ReliefWeb
IRIN
UN News Centre


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"By deceiving their public through a systematic manufacturing of lies,
their government and their media have abolished democracy for their
own people precisely to the extent to which they have withdrawn the
people's right to truthful information. You can have the best possible
mechanism for democracy, but if you feed it with lies, it cannot
produce results that are humane, honest, and progressive." - Slobodan
Milosevic

[laura fairhead]

Comrades,

Please note we don't have verification of this report from the DPRK
authorities yet. An admission has been made that there has been an
accident involving train collision but further information is forthcoming
and I will post this as/when we get confirmation. The Chinese foreign
ministry has apparently made a statement about it regarding themselves now
although I can't see anything on their website yet. Would be grateful
if ppl follow-up any further updates on this thread

greetings,
l

In article <slrnc8jcbb.j8....@bell486.bittersweet.org>,