Ryongchon emergency
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© UNICEF DPRK |
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Two girls stand looking at the remains of their primary school, which was destroyed by the blast 10 minutes after class was dismissed for lunch. |
On Thursday 22 April 2004, at 1210 hrs local time, two train wagons exploded at Ryongchon Station, Ryongchon County, North Pyongan Province. The blast killed more than 160 people, including 76 children, and injured 1,300 people, 370 of were hospitalized with serious injuries. The explosion caused major damage to housing, schools and medical facilities. The only primary school, one of the two kindergartens and the only nursery were totally destroyed causing disruption of children’s education, discontinuation of care-services, displacement and trauma to nearly 2000 children.
Emergency preparedness and response to the Ryongchon crisis has contributed to saving lives of those wounded in the explosion. In addition, UNICEF has played a part to returning normalcy to children by having them back to school and restoring education services and system.
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© UNICEF DPRK |
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Primary school students are back in the classroom, using borrowed space from the undamaged secondary school and school-in-a-box kits from UNICEF. |
UNICEF delivered a truck carrying emergency essential medical supplies within 48 hours after the explosion to the provincial medical warehouse of Ryongchon (transported within 12 hours of receiving official information and appeal). An assessment of damage was taken and the reconstruction of a primary school, a kindergarten, and a nursery has been included in the Mid Year Review of the
Consolidated Appeals Process. UNICEF has provided technical support for the drilling of bore holes at the affected site to provide an alternative water sources to those temporarily without water. 50 school-in-a-box kits have been delivered to ensure continuation of children continue receiving education in temporary arrangements while the schools are rebuilt.
