UN team to assess damage from train explosion in DPR of Korea

The United Nations is sending a damage assessment team this weekend to the site of the train explosion in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that killed 50 people and injured more than 1,000 others, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today.

"A formal request for international assistance in response to the disaster was received by OCHA this afternoon from the Government," it said, noting the multi-agency mission to Ryongchon County is planned for Saturday.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have already reallocated about $150,000 worth of medicines and medical supplies from existing programmes to meet some of the immediate needs.

Through his spokesman, Secretary-General Kofi Annan extended his condolences to the people and Government of the DPRK on the heavy loss of life and injuries caused by the train accident.

Yesterday afternoon, two train wagons carrying explosives detonated at Ryongchon Station in North Phyongan province, near the Chinese border. According to Government reporting, the explosives were en route to a construction site for a large-scale irrigation project when the accident occurred during shunting operations at the station.

The Government's Flood Damage Rehabilitation Committee said the explosion, which reportedly caused major damage to housing and infrastructure, including schools and medical facilities, levelled more than 1,800 dwellings.

The assessment mission will include representatives from OCHA, UNICEF, WHO, IFRC, the World Food Programme (WFP), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and representatives from the diplomatic community.