Nepal: Floods Emergency Appeal No. 17/2004

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In Brief

THIS EMERGENCY APPEAL SEEKS CHF 2,767,360 (USD 2,193,457 OR EUR 1,802,246) IN CASH, KIND, OR SERVICES TO ASSIST 180,000 BENEFICIARIES FOR 6 MONTHS

This Appeal is jointly prepared by Nepal Red Cross, the ICRC Delegation in Nepal and the Federation Office in Nepal.

The situation

Heavy rains which began in early July have resulted in widespread flooding and landslides in Nepal, causing suffering to thousands of people in eastern and central regions of the country.

As of 26 July over 740,000 people in 24 of Nepal's 75 districts were affected. The reported death toll has reached 174 and a further 35 persons are missing.

Several districts in the southern Terai region were submerged by water for several days forcing people to flee to safer areas. In the hilly region several landslides have occurred and houses have been swept away resulting in casualties. Assessments confirm that large areas of paddy fields with newly planted rice and other agricultural land have been washed out. There has also been massive destruction of infrastructure. Sixty-nine bridges have been severely damaged, affecting accessibility.

Over 18,000 houses have been completely destroyed and more than 43,000 have been partially damaged. Over 31,000 families have been displaced. Incidents of diarrhoea have increased and several deaths have been reported. Snake bites are also being reported, resulting in some deaths.

Some of the most affected districts are among the least developed in the country (Siraha, Ramechhap and Sarlahi). In the Human Development report 2003, Nepal ranks as one of the poorest countries in the world both in economic terms as well as social parameters. The GDP per capita is estimated at only USD 230. More than 40 percent of the population live below the poverty line, 48 percent of children under five are under-weight and 19 percent of the total population is undernourished.

Assessments have been carried out by district teams in accordance with the Relief Guidelines of the Nepal Red Cross and additional guidelines issued by the Society's NHQ. In addition, two NHQ teams with trained Regional Disaster Response Team members have assessed the situation in the most affected districts.

There are communication difficulties with some remote districts due to lack of roads and limited telephone connections. Qualitative information from some remote areas is still expected.

It should be noted that a large part of the country is affected by the ongoing conflict situation, which hampers access to some areas. In many districts only the main town and surrounding area is accessible to the authorities. The Nepal Red Cross is one of the few organisations that is able to collect information and reach beneficiaries throughout the whole territory of most districts. There are no direct security threats, but access can in some areas take longer as all parties need to be informed about Red Cross activities. Security considerations will oblige the Nepal Red Cross to ensure that all parties agree with its operational modalities - an issue the Society has been dealing for some time in cooperation with the ICRC. In this environment, the Nepal Red Cross is one of the main organisations that is able to collect information and reach beneficiaries in all districts.

All figures regarding the floods in this Appeal are based on information collected by the Nepal Red Cross through their branch network and other sources. These are shared on a daily basis with local UN agencies, the government and local INGOs/NGOs and used by them.

Red Cross response

The Nepal Red Cross was one of the first organisations to respond at the onset of the disaster. It utilized its high level of preparedness at district and NHQ level including pre-positioned relief stock at strategic points. In the early stage of the flooding the Nepal Red Cross focused on immediate response with supply of food items purchased locally and water purification liquid. Districts mobilized local resources, reaching over 3,500 families with food items during the first few days of the disaster while arranging distribution for family packages according to assessments undertaken by volunteers.

Through 25 July 15,425 family packages, consisting of tarpaulin, kitchen set and clothing had been distributed and a further 3,000 packages dispatched to districts by truck, and in the case of one hilly district, by plane. Prior to the monsoon period the National Society had stocks of 35,000 family packages in its central and regional warehouses and pre-positioned in depots and district offices.

The Society has also supported 800 families in the central and eastern region with plastic roofing sheeting.

Thousands of volunteers from the Community Based First Aid and Disaster Preparedness programmes, and Junior and Youth Red Cross circles have been mobilized for rescue, first aid and relief distribution activities.

While the past week has seen the rains ease, allowing some previously inaccessible areas to be reached, it is still early in the monsoon season.

August and early September usually bring heavy monsoon rains and further flooding and landslides can be expected. The National Society is therefore working hard to deliver relief materials as soon as possible. It is also essential to replenish stocks so that the Nepal Red Cross can maintain a high level of preparedness for new emergency situations. As all district chapters are not equally effective in responding to the flooding, NHQ is focusing on further capacity building of relatively weak branches in the area of response.

The needs

Immediate needs:

The following needs have been identified by the assessment teams in branches and confirmed by the NHQ assessment. The findings are similar to that of a UN interagency assessment team.

Food:

The most affected families need basic food items as their stocks and other resources have been destroyed. The most vulnerable families without material resources and few social links will be dependent on food aid for some weeks until villages and towns start functioning normally again. Red Cross branches have already started to raise local funds to purchase basic food for needy families. However, in some severely affected districts the needs are bigger than available local resources and Red Cross capacity, therefore support from the NHQ will be required.

Non-food items: basic household equipment

The most vulnerable households have witnessed floods sweep away or destroy belongings, including basic household equipment needed on a daily basis. The family packages distributed by Nepal Red Cross provides for basic items, such as a family kitchen set, basic clothing, blanket and tarpaulin.

Shelter

While people have taken shelter in community buildings such as schools and temples, many families are building temporary shelters as close as possible to their homes. The Nepal Red Cross has been distributing tarpaulins and plastic sheets and will require further stocks of these.

Health/Water/Sanitation:

Wells and ponds contaminated by flood water increase the incidence of water borne conditions, such as diarrhoea and typhoid. Malaria, Japanese encephalitis and other diseases spread by mosquitoes will most likely increase. Spraying against mosquitoes and provision of water purification tablets and bleaching powder will reduce these risks.

Preparedness for further flooding:

It is a very likely that further flooding and landslides will occur during the coming two months of this monsoon period. The Nepal Red Cross will need to replenish their relief stock to be prepared for new disaster situations with the number of people affected by the flooding likely to increase.

Longer-term needs

Livelihood: seeds:

Large areas of arable land have been flooded and crops destroyed. Once families are able to return to their land they will need to re-establish cultivation for income and their own food supply. While the most vulnerable families are farmers with small landholdings or laborers without land, most families rely on a vegetable garden for supplementary food and cash income. Valuable assistance would be provided through the provision of a variety of vegetable seeds that can be used during the coming planting season.

Housing:

Over 18,000 houses have been totally destroyed. The households that are particularly vulnerable are those without support from extended families, and large female headed families with limited coping mechanisms. To help prevent the break-up of these poorest and most vulnerable families, it will be essential that assistance is made available to rebuild their homes.

Coordination

The Nepal Red Cross is an ex-officio member of the National Disaster Relief Committee chaired by the Minister of Home Affairs. Red Cross representatives are ex-officio members of similar committees at district level headed by the Chief District Officers. These committees are tasked with coordinating the response among local authorities, local organisations and the Red Cross. However, only the Red Cross has a local network of sub-chapters, youth circles and trained volunteers in all districts. The committees on national and local level are meeting regularly , with Nepal Red Cross participation.

In addition to the formal coordination mechanism the Nepal Red Cross NHQ is continuously coordinating and sharing information with the Home Ministry, UNDP, WHO, USAID and through DP-net, a network of 24 organisations and agencies chaired by the Nepal Red Cross. These continuous contacts help avoid duplication and increase the reach to affected communities.

The Government has distributed dry foods in certain areas. The Ministry of Home Affairs has released NRs. 3 million (CHF 50,000) to assist those affected. An inter-agency UN team assessed the situation in the most affected districts and based on its findings held discussions with the Nepal Red Cross. It has requested the Society to take a lead role in the continued response and is considering various interventions in close coordination with the Nepal Red Cross.

UNDP has pledged support to the Red Cross transportation costs during the first days of the operation. There are also several examples where INGOs and NGOs have contributed with funds or in-kind food to various districts or directly through the NHQ. Save the Children, CARE Nepal, Rotary and ASMA have for example assisted Red Cross branches in the most affected districts with funds for food aid. The Regional DP-Net in the mid-western region has supplied relief packages to 250 families and funding. These are good examples of how DP-Net has functioned as a support network for the flood response. There are also examples where the district representative of the government, the Chief District Officer has channeled assistance through the Red Cross. Other local donors are now being approached and requested to support replenishment of disaster stock.

As indicated earlier the Nepal Red Cross is considered to be the leading organisation in disaster response in the country and other organisations and the UN agencies are therefore providing much of their support through the Society. The current situation is further emphasizing the key role played by the Nepal Red Cross.

The ICRC is the lead agency of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in Nepal due to the current internal armed conflict between the Government's Security Forces and the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M). The delegation consists of 37 delegates who regularly visit all districts. The ICRC delegation is focusing on protection (visits to detainees, monitoring of the conduct of hostilities and reestablishment of family links) and assistance (health, relief and water) as well as ensuring safer access and acceptability of the Movement by all parties of the conflict. Close coordination is taking place between the Nepal Red Cross, the ICRC Delegation and the Federation Office regarding all programmes. During recent visits to some flood affected districts, ICRC delegates witnessed the immediate and efficient response that the Nepal Red Cross branches were providing. The decision to launch this Emergency Appeal has been taken jointly by the three institutions and further developments during implementation will be coordinated during meetings between the Nepal Red Cross, ICRC and the Federation.

In the current conflict situation it is essential that Red Cross branches and volunteers are acting according to the fundamental principles and are perceived as neutral and independent. In addition to the code of conduct issued earlier by the National Society, additional guidelines have been sent to the districts regarding this operation. For the Red Cross it is imperative to have good coordination with all other actors in the flood response, while implementing its own operation independently.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

Nepal Red Cross Society, Kathmandu, Badri Khanal, Executive Director, badri@nrcs.org, phone: 977 1 42 70 650 fax: 977 1 42 71 915.

Federation Office, Kathmandu, Karin Hakansson-Furga, Federation Representative, ifrcnp01@ifrc.org, phone: 977 1 42 85 843, fax: 977 1 42 86 048.

ICRC Delegation, Kathmandu: Nicolas Bachman, Communication Delegate, Kathmandu.kat@icrc.org, phone 977 1 44 82 285, fax: 977 1 448 29 37.

For regional overview, contact Bob McKerrow, Head of Regional Delegation, South Asia , New Delhi. Phone +91 11 2685 8671, mobile +91 98 1000 1534, email - ifrcin02@ifrc.org

In Geneva: Suzana Jekic, Asia-Pacific Department; email: suzana.jekic@ifrc.org ; phone: +41 22 730 4353 and Jagan Chapagain, email jagan.chapagain@ifrc.org , phone +41 22 730 4316.

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, please access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org

For longer-term programmes, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal.

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