ID :
199545
Sun, 08/07/2011 - 06:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/199545
The shortlink copeid
First flood aid provision to N. Korea likely in September: official
SEOUL (Yonhap) - South Korea is ready to deliver flood aid to North Korea in September, a government official said Sunday.
"We'll send relief goods as soon as we're ready," the official said. "We will soon start taking some necessary administrative steps, and we could make our first delivery in September."
The government will hold a meeting to vote on the execution of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund and will try to secure goods through the state-run Public Procurement Service, he said.
Last week, Seoul offered 5 billion won (US$4.7 million) worth of emergency relief aid to the flood-stricken North Korea. The South later turned down a North Korean request for food and cement, saying it would only send medical supplies and other necessities such as blankets.
"At this point, we have no plans to send North Korea food or cement, or to expand the size of our aid provision," the official said.
North Korean state media have reported that heavy downpours in recent weeks left dozens of people dead and wreaked havoc across the country.
North Korea has been hit hard by floods in recent years, mainly because of a lack of investment in disaster control and severe deforestation.
South Korea's civilian aid agencies have recently sent 700 tons of flour to help feed children and other vulnerable people in the North. They plan to deliver an additional 1,900 tons of flour to the North by the end of this month
"We'll send relief goods as soon as we're ready," the official said. "We will soon start taking some necessary administrative steps, and we could make our first delivery in September."
The government will hold a meeting to vote on the execution of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund and will try to secure goods through the state-run Public Procurement Service, he said.
Last week, Seoul offered 5 billion won (US$4.7 million) worth of emergency relief aid to the flood-stricken North Korea. The South later turned down a North Korean request for food and cement, saying it would only send medical supplies and other necessities such as blankets.
"At this point, we have no plans to send North Korea food or cement, or to expand the size of our aid provision," the official said.
North Korean state media have reported that heavy downpours in recent weeks left dozens of people dead and wreaked havoc across the country.
North Korea has been hit hard by floods in recent years, mainly because of a lack of investment in disaster control and severe deforestation.
South Korea's civilian aid agencies have recently sent 700 tons of flour to help feed children and other vulnerable people in the North. They plan to deliver an additional 1,900 tons of flour to the North by the end of this month
