Nepal: Flood Contingency Plan (June 2015)

STRATEGIC SUMMARY

Nepal continues to struggle from the combined effects of chronic food insecurity and undernutrition, high rates of poverty and an uncertain poilitical transition following the 10 year conflict. In April and May 2015, Nepal was hit by two major earthquakes. The Kathmandu Valley and parts of the mid-hill areas remain subject to aftershocks.

Every year, between June and September, flooding in the Terai warrants for increased preparedness by the Government and the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT). In 2014, heavy rainfall caused floods and landslides across 17 districts causing 134 deaths and affecting over 45,000 families. Four districts of Nepal‟s Mid-Western Region witnessed the most severe devastation with nearly 29,000 affected families and 28,000 damaged houses.

To optimize the speed and volume of critical assistance, the HCT has developed this Plan to:

1. Reach a common understanding of the flood risk and how to monitor potential flooding in the Terai to ensure early action is taken when required;

2. Establish a minimum level of multi-hazard preparedness across core clusters; and to

3. Build the basis for a joint HCT response strategy to meet the needs of affected people in the first 30 days of a humanitarian emergency.