N. Korea flood leaves 169 dead, 212000 homelessAugust 4, 2012 - 15:05 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The floods that hit parts of North Korea in recent weeks have killed 169 people and left 400 missing, the state news agency says, sharply revising earlier casualty figures, according to BBC News. The floods and heavy rain in late June and July have also made more than 212,000 people homeless, it says. Some 65,000 hectares (160,000 acres) of cropland were affected. The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) says it is sending emergency food aid to North Korea after it asked for aid. Official media had previously reported 119 deaths in the floods. On Friday, the WFP said the initial food assistance would provide flood victims with 400g (14oz) of maize per day for two weeks, but it did not say when the food would arrive. UN officials in Pyongyang who visited flood-hit parts of the country to assess damage said the need for aid was urgent. Damage to infrastructure and farmland has affected the country's already dire food shortage problem. More than 8,600 houses were destroyed and another 43,770 swamped, along with some 1,400 schools, factories and healthcare facilities, according to the state news agency. Residents in these areas need of food supplies, as well as clean water, as wells have been contaminated by sewage during the floods. North Korea relies on food aid because it cannot grow enough food to feed its people, BBC News said. Famine in the mid-1990s is believed to have killed hundreds of thousands of people. A UN report released last month estimated that two-thirds of North Korea's 24 million population suffer from a chronic shortage of food. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. |