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Disasters

Disaster Preparedness And Response


Responding To Natural Disasters

Since 1995 North Korea has been hard hit by a series of natural disasters, including drought and floods, landslides and tidal waves. Following the recent natural disasters, the DPRK Red Cross has made Disaster Preparedness and Response (DPR) a priority program. As a result, the National Society has gained increase profile and recognition as a leading disaster response organization.

 
Provinces in the northwest region of the country are most susceptible to floods while the northeast of the country is often hit by landslides. The west and eastern coastal provinces face typhoons and flash floods.

With the assistance of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Canadian Red Cross, the DPRK Red Cross has provided food, medicine, blankets, quilts and other essential relief items to households, hospitals and medical clinics. During relief operations since 1995 over 300,000 North Korean Red Cross volunteers and 8,000 first-aid posts have responded to natural disasters and economic hardship in the country.

Strengthening Local Capabilities

The DPRK Red Cross' major programs and services are directed towards protecting life, promoting health and providing first?aid services. In addition, the Society, which has operated for more than 50 years, is actively involved in tracing services, youth activities and disseminating International Humanitarian Law. The Society is comprised of nine provincial and three city branch committees, further divided into 200 county committees. The highest governing body is the Central Committee, to which the Secretary General reports. Programs are delivered by more than 300,000 volunteers.

The disaster preparedness program of the Red Cross aims at strengthening the local capabilities of the DPRK Red Cross. Since 1998 a DPR department has been operating out of the DPRK Red Cross national headquarters. A training curriculum for local disaster response volunteers has been developed and workshops are conducted at both national and provincial levels. One central warehouse and four regional warehouses have also been established to stockpile basic emergency relief items.

 
The Canadian Red Cross will continue to help provide relief to victims of natural disaster. But we will also help North Korea better prepare for such catastrophes in the future, allowing people to cope better and return to their normal lives more quickly. This will include more training for local Red Cross volunteers, improved communications within high risk areas, development of public education materials, and increased stockpiling of basic emergency relief items.