23/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - Reacting to the explosion of a train causing at least 150 deaths, on Thursday afternoon in North Korea, the Commission immediately authorised aid to Pyongyang via ECHO, its Humanitarian Aid Office. According to the spokesperson for Commissioner Poul Nielson, the ECHO expert is already in the country and will go to the scene of the accident on Saturday morning to assess needs. The Commission has not yet received any formal request for aid but is able to make funds available within 72 hours, from Sunday. ECHO partners on the ground have stocks of medicines. In 2003, the EU disbursed EUR 17.5 million in humanitarian aid for North Korea for health needs (7.5 million), water supplies and sanitation (4.5 million) and food (5 million).