Torrential rains and tropical storms this summer have caused catastrophic flooding in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, creating a humanitarian crisis as thousands of people have lost homes, possessions, and livelihoods.

Damage reportedly has been extensive in farm regions, with 148,000 acres of land washed away or inundated. Forecasts call for continued heavy rains in the coming weeks, exacerbating the problem.

Samaritan’s Purse has responded by sending an airlift of emergency aid to help those in desperate need.

"I want the North Koreans to know that there is a God who loves them," Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham said.

A cargo plane filled with 100 tons of supplies departed from Charlotte, N.C. on Friday and arrived in Pyongyang Saturday evening.

“When I was in North Korea in May, I saw the country's increasingly dire needs,” Graham said. “The recent flooding has made this situation even more acute.”



The U.S. State Department has allocated $900,000 to American organizations to deliver flood relief to the country. Samaritan's Purse is adding $1.2 million of aid.

“I'm very pleased that the United States government is separating political differences from humanitarian need,” Graham said. “People are people. God made and created each and every one of us. The Bible teaches us that those who have much should share with those who have little.”

The airlift includes heavy-duty plastic for temporary shelters, as well as blankets, cooking kits, hygiene items, high-capacity water filters, shovels, jerry cans, supplemental food, and medical supplies.




Staff members will travel to North Korea to observe the distribution of the aid.

Samaritan's Purse has worked in North Korea for more than a decade. Last August, we sent another airlift of emergency supplies in response to severe flooding. In 2008, we were part of a collaborative effort that delivered 71,000 metric tons of food to more than 900,000 people in two northwest provinces of the country.

Franklin Graham has visited the country four times, including in May when he and a delegation from Samaritan’s Purse spent several days in the nation to meet senior officials about humanitarian needs including agricultural, medical, and food needs.

Samaritan's Purse , North Korea , Emergency Relief , Flood Relief for North Korea