SEOUL: Organisers of the World Scout Jamboree asked host South Korea on Monday to “urgently” evacuate tens of thousands of children from their campsite ahead of a typhoon, just days after a heatwave caused mass scout illnesses.

Typhoon Khanun, which killed at least two people in Japan, is due to make landfall in South Korea on Thursday, near where some 43,000 scouts have been camping in North Jeolla province for their problem-plagued jamboree.

Korean media have called the jamboree “a national disgrace” after an extreme heatwave caused hundreds of scouts to fall ill and prompted American and British scout groups to withdraw as criticism grew over conditions at the campsite.

Organisers had insisted the event would continue but on Monday the World Organisation of the Scout Movement said Seoul had told them that “due to the expected impact of Typhoon Khanun, an early departure will be planned for all participants”.

“We urgently call on the Government to expedite the plan for departure and provide all necessary resources and support for participants during their stay and until they return to their home countries,” it said in a statement.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2023