North Korea facing food crisis

Geneva - Heavy flooding in North Korea which killed dozens of people last week has also wiped out crucially-needed rice stocks…

Geneva - Heavy flooding in North Korea which killed dozens of people last week has also wiped out crucially-needed rice stocks, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned yesterday. Launching an appeal for €540,500 the Geneva-based organisation said the cash was essential to help 12,000 of the most needy for three months.

Torrential rains inundated eastern provinces of North Korea last week, leaving up to 114 people dead or missing, according to United Nations relief agencies.

The Federation put the death toll at 81 and said about 60,000 people were left homeless.

In Wonsan city, provincial capital of Kangwon, up to 450 millimetres of rain fell in a single day, the Federation said.