This report is produced by Office of the Resident Coordinator Nepal in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 16 to 18 August 2017.
Highlights
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Following the floods, there are significant concerns about the possibility of disease outbreaks, with affected people facing challenges in accessing adequate health care.
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Flood waters are receding, however, with access improving and a better understanding of the impact and damage caused by the floods, the overall number of affected people continues to rise.
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Initial reports suggest that the disaster has caused agricultural and livestock losses totaling tens of millions of dollars.
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The Government of Nepal has taken the lead in the rescue, relief and response, and is welcoming assistance from friendly Governments, organizations and interested individuals.
Situation Overview
As of 18 August, the districts with the highest numbers of people affected by the floods are; Saptari, Rautahat, Mahottari, Siraha, Baridya, Sunsari, Banke, Chitwan, Morang, Sarlahi, Kailali and Jhapa. Across all affected districts, 44,683 families have been displaced, with at least 383 schools and learning centres are being used as temporary shelters.
Search and rescue operations have now been completed, and focus of the response has now shifted to the provision of relief to the affected population.
Logistics hubs have been established in Ithari (Province 1), Bardibas (Province 2) and Hetauda (Province 3) and MI17 helicopters are being used to airlift relief supplies from these hubs to inaccessible areas. Road access across the country remains a major barrier to relief operations; however, in some areas temporary repair works have been successful in re-establishing limited road access. An updated access constraints map, showing road obstruction across the country, produced by logistics cluster, is available here:
http://www.logcluster.org/sites/default/files/maps/npl_accessconstraints_a3l_20170817.pdf As access to previously waterlogged areas improves, more information on the impact of the floods and the damage, is emerging.
The Ministry of Agricultural Development reports that crops worth tens of millions of dollars have been destroyed and nearly 70,000 livestock have perished. Additionally, over 500 industries, both large and small, have been shut down.
Initial Rapid Assessments are being conducted in all affected districts, with results expected in the coming days; until then there are still gaps in understanding impact and current priority needs. As forecasted by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, light showers are expected in the mid hills on 18 August. Water levels in major river basins are now below ‘warning’ level, nevertheless, there is still the possibility of floods in western, central and eastern regions.