30 July - 5 August 2012 - orsam
30 July - 5 August 2012 - orsam
30 July - 5 August 2012 - orsam
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UN: Tens of Thousands Without Drinking Water in N.Korea<br />
The United Nations says a series of devastating floods has left tens of thousands of North Korean<br />
families without clean water and at risk of a disease outbreak.<br />
In a report Thursday, the U.N. and several aid agencies said two weeks of torrential rains have caused<br />
floods that have contaminated drinking water wells and washed away numerous hospital facilities.<br />
Quoting government figures, the report said the bad weather has left over 60,000 people homeless. It<br />
said there has been major damage to crops in the communist country, which already suffers from<br />
chronic food shortages.<br />
Earlier this week, U.N. staff members visited two flood-hit regions of the country to investigate<br />
damage and assess needs. But the report said it remains difficult to determine the exact humanitarian<br />
condition or its long-term impact on food supplies.<br />
The official Korean Central News Agency has reported at least 119 deaths from the bad weather.<br />
The U.N. report said government figures indicate that over 50,000 people are without access to clean<br />
water. Many areas are using wells that have been contaminated by sewage. There is already an<br />
increase in diarrhea in some regions.<br />
A recent U.N. report said two-thirds of North Korea's 24 million people face chronic food shortages.<br />
Analysts say the latest flooding could make matters worse, since it came at the end of a drought.<br />
Many parts of North Korea have become prone to flooding because of deforestation.<br />
―UN: Tens of Thousands Without Drinking Water in N.Korea‖, 02/08/<strong>2012</strong>, online at:<br />
http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/<strong>2012</strong>/08/02/un-tens-of-thousands-without-drinking-water-in-n-<br />
korea/?utm_source=Circle+of+Blue+WaterNews+%26+Alerts&utm_campaign=5c3cc127bc-<br />
RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email<br />
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