Tens of thousands displaced following North Korea floods

Areas in North Korea have been entirely cut off and tens of thousands of people require assistance after floods hit

13 September 2016, 8:50am

1 min read

140,000 people are in urgent need of assistance - UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Aid agencies have warned that North Korea is facing a humanitarian disaster after tens of thousands of people were displaced by flooding.

The UN and the International Red Cross reportedly said that the government has reported 133 deaths with nearly 400 people missing and homes and crops destroyed as a result of the floods triggered by the recent Typhoon Lionrock. The worst flooding is reportedly along the Tumen river, which borders southern China. Many areas in Musan and Yonsa counties are entirely cut off, said the UN.

According to the BBC, rescue teams have been unable to reach some of the worst-hit areas.

The UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs has said 140,000 people are "in urgent need of assistance".

North Korea already has chronic food shortages and is heavily dependent on foreign aid to feed its population.

The UN has allocated $8 million (€7.12 million) this year for humanitarian aid.

The flooding comes as North Korea faces global anger for conducting its fifth nuclear test.