GLIDE no. FL-2008-000104-NPL
Period covered in this Final Report: 29 August 2008 to 29 August 2009;
Appeal target (current): CHF 2.65 million (USD 2.33 million or EUR 1.73 million).
Appeal coverage: With contributions received to date, in cash and kind, the appeal is approximately 79 per cent covered. With additional bilateral support from partners, the Nepal Red Cross Society's flood operation is fully funded.
Appeal history:
- This emergency appeal was launched on October 20 for CHF 2.6 million (USD 2.33 million or EUR 1.73 million) for 12 months to assist more than 20,000 families affected by the Saptakoshi River flood and the monsoon floods in the mid-western, and far-western regions of Nepal.
- A preliminary emergency appeal was launched on 29 August 2008 for CHF 1.39 million (USD 1.2 million or EUR 861,530) for nine months to assist more than 5,000 families affected by the Saptakoshi River flood.
- Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF): CHF 250,000 (USD 227,740 or EUR 154,700) was initially allocated on 28 August 2008 from the International Federation's DREF, to support the Nepal Red Cross Society in delivering immediate assistance.
- A number of other partners from within and outside the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement have also contributed to the Nepal Red Cross's flood relief operation.
- All activities under this emergency appeal have been completed.
All funds have been spent except for a balance of CHF 33,552 (USD 33,186 or EUR 22,205); the International Federation seeks to transfer these funds to the Nepal 2010-2011 Plan for disaster preparedness activities, under the disaster management programme.
Partners/donors who have any questions about the reallocation of the final balance of funds are requested to contact the International Federation within the next 90 days.
Summary:
Monsoon floods in Nepal's Terrai plains affected over 200,000 people, causing distress to an already vulnerable population. The worst impact of the flood had been on the country's eastern side, along the country's border with India. A total of 60 people died; most of them in the aftermath of the floods due to health problems, and many were injured as the Saptakoshi river broke its embankment, changed course and displaced approximately 70,000 people. The mid- and far-western regions of Nepal were also badly affected as floods, exacerbated by landslides, claimed many human lives while many more were injured. While 40 people died due to the floods and landslides as well as during the days that followed, 200,000 people were affected in eight districts and 40 people died.
The Saptakoshi river has caused a lot of destruction in the past due to its lateral westward movement and frequent flooding. Over the last centuries, the Saptakoshi River has gradually shifted from east to west. Areas near the Indian border were submerged, including part of the highway that created the closing down of all transport in this region. Sunsari district was one of the hardest hit areas, where the village development committees (VCD) of Shreeharipur, Shreepurjavdi, Lokahi and Kusahapaschim were severely affected. Dhuskighat, Bashntapur, Narshingha and Madhuban VDCs were also affected, as well as some areas in Noth Bihar (India).
As in past instances, the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) took the lead role in the implementation of nonfood relief distributions. In the current flood relief operation, the NRCS had also taken the lead implementation role in emergency shelter in the east (complementing the International Federation's role as shelter cluster lead).
The relief materials were provided in a coordinated way in order to avoid duplication. The coordination was carried out at the district level through the District Disaster Relief Committee (in which the NRCS is present in an ex-officio capacity) as well as at the national level through the Central Disaster Relief Committee (of which, too, the NRCS is an ex-officio member). The cluster approach was formalized for the Saptakoshi response to support the national authorities in the coordination of the humanitarian response.
One implication of this coordination was that it covered other humanitarian agencies as well as civil society initiatives (including initiatives of local business) that provided aid to the affected population and, so, all families were covered with an optimum employment of resources. As a result, some funds from this emergency appeal were left unspent. It is proposed that the remaining funds from this emergency appeal be transferred after the mandatory period of 90 days to fund the NRCS disaster management plan 2010 - 2011.
Contributions to this appeal has been received from American Red Cross, Austrian Red Cross, Belgium Red Cross - Flanders, British Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross/Canadian government, Danish Red Cross, Finnish Red Cross/Finnish government, Italian government, Japanese Red Cross, Luxembourg Red Cross, Netherlands Red Cross/Netherlands government, Swedish Red Cross/Swedish government and USAID.
The International Federation, on behalf of the Nepal Red Cross Society, would like to thank all partners for their generous response to this appeal.