Isle of Wight Scouts and their leaders are 'safe and well,' days after they left East Cowes for South Korea and amid reports of an extreme heatwave and inadequate conditions at the World Jamboree.
Meanwhile, the national scouting organisation confirmed UK Scouts are being transferred to the capital, Seoul, from the SaeManGeum campsite, which is around 200 miles south of the capital.
Reassuring parents, it said volunteers have been working with organisers to ensure UK scouts and their leaders had enough food and water, shelter from the unusually hot weather, and access to appropriate toilets and washing facilities.
In an updated statement today (Saturday), it said coaches of young people and volunteers have already starting arriving in Seoul and members are settling into their new accommodation.
Temperatures have risen to 35C at the World Scout Jamboree campsite near the south-western town of Buan.
Among tens of thousands of young people on the site were around 4,500 British scouts - some of whom have needed treatment for heat-related illnesses, said PA news agency.
The UK Scouts statement said: "The UK Embassy has been welcoming them as they arrive.
"It is also supporting the UK team with developing programme activities for rest of their Jamboree experience in South Korea."
The Isle of Wight delegation, all aged 14-18, and their leaders, waved goodbye on July 28.
Their 5,600 mile journey was supposed to have been the trip of a lifetime and included an address by Chief Scout Bear Grylls, who grew up on the Isle of Wight.
Most of the Islanders joined Unit 63, alongside Scouts from Hampshire, while two of the group are attending as part of the International Service Team (IST).
All had raised funds for the trip, over 18 months.
It was expected to be the largest scout camp to be held since Covid-19, with over 40,000 young people from across the world taking part.
The UK Scouts statement said it had made the decision to move its members because theirs is the largest delegation in South Korea and they will remain in the country until at least August 13.
The organisation said it hoped their departure would ease the conditions for those remaining on the campsite.
It said: "We know that may be a disappointment for some and we will continue the Jamboree experience in Seoul, working with Korean authorities on a programme of activities so our young people still get the most from their time in Korea.
PA reported, the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) said: "We have been informed that the UK Contingent has decided to leave the Jamboree camp early, allowing the scouts to continue their Jamboree experience in Seoul until they are scheduled to travel home.”
"The host (Korean Scout Association) decided to go ahead with the event, assuring that they will do everything possible to address the issues caused by the heatwave by adding additional resources.
"We continue to call on the host and the Korean government to honour their commitments to mobilise additional financial and human resources, and to make the health and safety of the participants their top priority."
It is being reported that hundreds of American scouts could also leave the site, for a US military base.
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