The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has appealed to the international community to provide 1.25 million U.S. dollars in emergency aid for North Korea in the wake of last week's train explosion.

The Geneva-based agency said Monday that the funds would be used to provide immediate necessities for people left homeless after the blast, household essentials, treatment of the injured and recovery efforts over a one year period.

The organization added that it had sent emergency goods and medical supplies to the North on Sunday after an international mission comprised of UN officials returned from inspecting the blast site on Saturday.