North Korea says Beijing and the Red Cross Society of China have offered emergency relief materials to Pyongyang in response to severe flooding from heavy rains in recent weeks.

The North's official Korean Central News Agency said Monday the relief will greatly encourage people in their recovery efforts. It did not mention the amount of aid nor the form it would take.

North Korea says dozens of people have been killed, injured or left missing after torrential rains pounded the country. Officials say nearly 3,000 homes were washed away in the flooding that followed.

Following an emergency request from North Korea to United Nations a week ago, the International Committee for the Red Cross and Red Crescent sent 600 kits containing bottles of water, utensils, blankets and tarps to the country's North Hwanghae province.

The Red Cross said an additional 2,460 kits containing soap, toilet paper, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste and water purification tablets will also be sent to South Hwanghae province. Those provinces were apparently hard hit by the recent flooding.