(2004- 18) News Release April 26, 2004 Ottawa — The Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister for International Cooperation, today announced that Canada will answer the emergency appeal of the International Red Cross for relief aid for victims of last week's massive train explosion in Ryongchon County, Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will make an immediate contribution of $100,000 through the Canadian Red Cross. "Canada's contribution will provide immediate emergency relief to the people affected by this devastating explosion," said Minister Carroll. "The Red Cross has been quick to mobilize in providing emergency first aid, support to hospitals and temporary shelter for those who have lost their homes." 161 fatalities have been confirmed, some 1,300 injured and more than 700 hospitalized as a result of the explosion which occurred on April 22, at Ryongchon railway station. Several thousand people have been left homeless, and some 1,850 homes were destroyed or have been rendered uninhabitable, while a further 6,360 have sustained partial damage. Some 40 per cent of this town with a population of 27,000 have been affected by disruptions to supplies of electricity and water, and communications. The Red Cross will address both the short-term and long-term needs of the people affected by the explosion. This includes the distribution of relief items from Red Cross disaster preparedness centres, the distribution of household packages to affected families, the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the area, as well as material and medical support for those people who sustained long-term injuries due to the explosion. "Last Thursday's explosion has had a devastating impact on thousands of people," said Dr. Pierre Duplessis, Secretary General, Canadian Red Cross. "The support provided by CIDA today will help the DPRK and International Red Cross to provide urgently needed relief items such as medicines, kitchen sets, blankets, water containers, water purification tablets and first-aid kits." Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 2004 Federal Budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. - 30 - Information: Andrew Graham Director of Communications Office of the Minister for International Cooperation Telephone: (819) 953-3160 Media Relations Office Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Telephone: (819) 953-6534 E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca Suzanne Charest Communications Officer Canadian Red Cross Telephone: (613) 740-1928 Cellular: (613) 222-6196
