South Korea's Relief Aid for the Train Explosion at Ryongchong Station (As of April 26)
ROK Ministry of Unification
2004-04-27
1. Progress
O April 23
Acting President Goh Kun ordered to draw up relief measures for North Korea on humanitarian grounds
O April 23 14:00
Unification Minister Jeong Sehyun gave a weekly briefing to journalists, saying: ¡°The government will do its utmost to help North Korea on humanitarian and brotherhood grounds¡±
O April 24 10:00
Acting president Goh Kun presided over a ministerial meeting to take emergency response measures for the train explosion
- The government, as part of its first stage relief aid, decided to provide 1 million dollars' worth of emergency relief supplies to North Korea
* As part of its support for the international community's relief effort, the South expressed its willingness to send 200,000 dollars to World Health Organization via the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea in Geneva
O April 25 09:00
The government convened the Working-level Emergency Response Team meeting to deal with aid for the train explosion
- The task force team discussed specific relief aid efforts such as which items of emergency relief supplies will be delivered and how they will be transported
O April 26 14:00
The South received a response from the North in the name of the chairman of the North Korean Red Cross
- The North, expressing its gratitude for the South's consolation, requested the South to send relief supplies on a sea route. It proposed to hold a working-level consultative meeting in Gaesong April 27
2. Major Relief Effort
O As part of its first relief aid, the South will provide 1million dollars' worth of emergency relief supplies. The supplies include:
- 400,000 dollars' worth of daily necessities and emergency relief goods
* 3,000 sets of emergency relief supplies (consisting of two quilts, underclothes, towels and a few cakes of soap), 100,000 bowls of instant ramen, 10,000 bottles (1.8L) of mineral water, 3,000 blankets, and 3,000 pairs of training suits
¡Ø They will be procured by April 26 (Mon)
- 400,000 dollars' worth of medical supplies and equipments
* A total of 91 types of medical supplies and equipments
¡Ø They will be procured by April 28 (Wed)
O The government sent 200,000 dollars to World Health Organization to help promote the international community's relief aid to North Korea
O The South will consult with the North to take a land route to ensure quicker and safer supply of the relief goods
- If land route is unavailable, the South will try to utilize the transportation ship carrying medical supplies of the South Korean Red Cross which has been already scheduled to leave for Nampo April 28
O The South will consult with the North to dispatch medical expert team and hospital ships to offer emergency medical treatment
- It will dispatch an emergency medical team consisting of 50 medical experts and two hospital ships
O The government will pay transportation cost for NGOs and other civic groups, if they designate the South Korean Red Cross an agency to send their funds to the explosion at Ryongchon station
3. Timetable
O April 27 14:00
Unification Minister will report to the National Assembly on the government's relief aid measures for the train explosion at Ryongchon
O April 27 14:30~17:00
The South and North Korean Red Cross will hold a working-level meeting in Gaesong
¡Ø International Assistance for the Explosion at Ryongchon station
¡à U.S.
O U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell declared that the U.S. is ¡°willing to help¡± the North
O Whitehouse spokesperson Scott McClellan announced on April 26 that U.S. will provide 100,000 dollars in aid to the North
¡à Japan
O Foreign Ministry announced on April 25 its plan to provide 100,000 dollars' worth of sets of relief medical supplies.
¡à China
O Foreign Ministry announced on April 24 its plan to provide 1.2 million dollars' worth of relief supplies
- As part of its first relief aid effort, China sent on April 25 to North Korea 2,000 blankets and 300 tents and foods worth about 70,000 dollars via its Customs house in Shinuiju
* Choe Inse, vice chairman of People's Committee of the Northern Pyongan province, showed up in the delivery site
¡à Russia
O Deputy Emergency Situation Minister Yury Brazhnikov announced on April 25 that Russia, as its first stage relief effort, will provide North Korea with 10 tons of medical supplies, 1,000 blankets and 85 tents (for 10-30 people)
* A transport plane carrying relief goods is scheduled to take off 6 P.M on April 26
¡à EU
O European Commission decided on April 23 to provide 200,000 euros via the Danish Red Cross
* Germany, in the name of its chancellor, sent a telegram of condolence to North Korea
¡à International Organization
O There are a variety of international organizations joining in relief aid such as United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(OCHA), UNICEF, World Health Organization(WHO), Food & Agriculture Organization(FAO), World Food Programme(WFP), International Federation of Red Cross(IFRC) and International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC)
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