The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters.
CHF 307,240 (USD 302,858 or EUR 202,870) has been allocated from the International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Nepal Red Cross Society to deliver immediate assistance to some 4,000 families with non-food relief items as well as to replenish disaster preparedness stocks distributed to the affected population. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.
Summary: The tail end of the monsoon in October has triggered flood and landslides in Nepal which affected a total of 14 districts in the mid and far-west regions, of which Kailali, Bardiya, Banke, Dadeldhura, Accham and Kanchapur district are most affected. The affected areas are geographically scattered and remote, and are therefore difficult to access. So far, the flood and landslides have claimed 62 lives, affecting more than 152,000 individuals from 27,000 families. More than 4,000 families are displaced and are taking shelter in schools, open space and forest areas with no protection from the external elements. The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) has so far completed an initial assessment and is planning for a more detailed assessment. The NRCS has assisted with search and rescue and evacuation operations as well as initiated relief distribution together with other local stakeholders in the district, mainly with the district disaster relief committee (DDRC) of the government, other governmental and non-governmental organizations.
So far, NRCS has provided ready to eat food in terms of beaten rice, salt, oil, sugar, instant noodles, biscuits, rice and pulses to more than 5,000 families and non-food relief items to more than 1,000 families. The NRCS is continuing food and non-food relief item distribution to the rest of the affected families. There is a need to assist more with shelter, food and early recovery initiatives with the continuation of assessments.
This operation is expected to be implemented over three months, and will therefore be completed by 19 January 2010; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 18 April 2010).
The situation
Torrential rains from the tail end of the monsoon in October caused floods and landslides in the mid- and farwestern regions, affecting a total of 14 districts. Assessments by the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) district chapters indicated that 27,563 families (approximately 152,554 people) have been affected. The latest information received from the NRCS district chapters indicated that 62 people were killed and 27 injured as a result of flood and landslides. A total of 4,027 families were displaced due to the destruction of more than 4,000 houses (3,000 completely and 1,000 partially destroyed) by the floods and landslides. The reports received from the district chapters indicated there are still more than 1,000 families (approximately 5,600 people) taking shelter in the school and the nearby forest areas. Geographically, the affected areas are very much scattered and due to remoteness the access is very difficult in the mid and far-western region. The road network is very limited in the affected areas, however, the communication system is functional. Now the flood water is gradually receding and people, whose houses were not affected, started to return back to their homes.
In the worst hit districts of Kailali, Banke, Bardiya and Kanchanpur; large areas of paddy fields along with food supplies stocked by the people were washed way. The farmers of these districts, who traditionally harvest during this period, now face food shortages. In addition, numerous families have lost their livestock, impacting economically as they work towards recovering from the floods. The reports also indicate that several villages are still submerged in water and may present secondary health hazards with vector and waterborne diseases.
During the first few days, assessments, rescue and relief operations were hampered in several of the affected areas due to the partial or complete breakdown in communication systems and transportation networks. Some areas were inaccessible due to the continuing heavy rainfall; however, the situation has improved as floodwater levels receded in most of the affected areas. The NRCS is undertaking its response actions as part of a national and district level coordination approach through the pre-established mechanism mandated by government policy.
The NRCS district chapters immediately responded to the situation, deployed trained volunteers and staff in the field to conduct assessment as well as distribute relief items. Likewise, the government of Nepal, particularly the district disaster relief committee (DDRC) has been coordinating the relief operation. Despite other international and local non-governmental organizations getting involved in the relief operation, however, there is still a need to cover all areas in order to fulfill the relief needs of the affected population.
On the basis of the assessment report, the NRCS district chapters analyzed the needs to be fulfilled. The assessment report has indicated the need of non-food relief items to be distributed to the affected families in order to sustain their livelihood. So far, 1,351 families (approximately 8,106 individuals) are assisted with non-food relief items but there is still a need to distribute non-food relief items to the remaining 3,287 families (approximately 19,722 individuals).