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DPRK + 1 more

Red Cross on alert for Typhoon Soulik

Beijing / Kuala Lumpur / Geneva, 23 August 2018 – Vulnerable communities on the Korean peninsula are braced for the impact of Typhoon Soulik, expected to make landfall in South Korea at midnight on 23 August and move northeastwards to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Friday morning.

The DPRK Red Cross activated its early warning and preparedness systems as soon as Typhoon Soulik's path was predicted and has disseminated storm warning alerts to 14 branches and five provincial branches in North and South Hwanghae, Kangwon and North and South Hamgyong provinces. Red Cross national and provincial disaster response teams are on standby.

Altogether, more than 90 county-level Red Cross branches in five provinces are working with local authorities to prevent loss of life and damage to homes and agriculture. The Red Cross is reviewing its community-based early waring and evacuation systems, reconfirming evacuation routes and shelter sites, ensuring that relief items are ready for distribution, and preparing to provide search and rescue, first aid and activities to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases if necessary.

The approach of Typhoon Soulik is the latest threat to vulnerable people in DPRK, which is currently suffering from a heatwave that may damage food production across the country.

The Korean Red Cross has activated its disaster response system, local branches are on standby and the National Society has checked that stocks of emergency relief items are available and ready to be dispatched if necessary.

To arrange interviews with IFRC or Red Cross officials please contact:

In Beijing: Maude Froberg, +86 139 1009 6892, maude.froberg@ifrc.org

In Kuala Lumpur: Rosemarie North, +60 122 308 451, rosemarie.north@ifrc.org

In Geneva: Alison Freebairn, +41 79 251 9333, alison.freebairn@ifrc.org