Nepal: Floods - Aug 1998

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kathmandu informs that recent heavy rainfalls caused flooding and landslides in Nepal. According to the information provided by the Ministry of Home, 25 out of 75 districts had been affected. These are: Jhapa, Morang, Parsa, Rautahat, Dhading, Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Tanahu, Chitwan, Baitadi, Panchthar, Parbat, Bara, Gulmi, Banke, Taplejung, Rasuwa, Ilam, Mahottari, Palpa, Makwanpur, Udayapur, Sarlahi, Pyuthan, and Darchula. 115 people have been killed by the floods and landslides that started on 14 April 1998. 7,812 families in 62 districts have been seriously affected and 2,866 houses have collapsed. Thousands of people are left homeless. 1,162 families in 18 districts have been temporarily resettled. The total loss is estimated at NPR 120 million (USD 1.8 million). In addition, the districts of Humla, Rukum, Bajura, Kailai, Gorkha, Lamjung and Acham are facing shortages of food grains. (OCHA, 12 Aug 1998)

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kathmandu informed that torrential rainfall over 28 - 29 August had caused landslides in Sangha district (230 km west of Kathmandu). According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, in the above district, 41 people were killed with 9 missing and presumed dead, and 69 houses were swept away. A special Secretary from the Ministry of Home Affairs has been dispatched to the district along with 2 medical teams with medicines. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reports that the floods have also destroyed two important bridges along the Siddhartha highway and brought down power lines in a large area. The Government has provided NPR 750,000 (USD 11,095) for emergency relief. According to an earlier report issued by the Disaster Relief Section of the Ministry of Home Affairs, as of 19 August 1998, 70 out of the 75 districts of Nepal had been affected by floods and landslides during this year's monsoon season. As per information received from the District Administration Offices, the death toll had reached 156 with 4 people missing and 63 injured. 15,269 families had reportedly been affected. (OCHA, 8 Sep 1998)