Nepal: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 1

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/0147
OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Nepal - Floods

This situation report is based on the information received from the United Nations Resident Coordinator's office in Kathmandu.

Situation

1. Three days of heavy rain starting from 24 September affected far-western Nepal along the border with India, causing floods and landslides.

2. In the Kanchanpur district, hundreds of people were affected by heavy rainfall in Mahendranagar, a town 640 km west of Kathmandu. The Mahakali River, swollen by late monsoon rains, burst through a dike and flooded parts of the town located near the border with India. Relief efforts have been undertaken by the Royal Nepalese Army, the District Administration Office (DAO) and the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS). According to the DAO and NRCS, 134 families have been displaced and sought shelter in nearby school buildings. 200 houses were completely destroyed and 43 houses were partially destroyed. The DAO distributed some food supplies to the affected families. NRCS has provided non-food items to 25 families and is conducting damage assessment.

3. In the Dadelhura district, floodwaters from the Shirsha River inundated a village of the same name about 700 km northwest of Kathmandu on 26 September, according to the district police. NRCS reached the flood-affected area on 27 September and started rescue operations. According to NRCS, at least 15 people lost their lives and 20 families have been displaced in Jogbudha VDC (Village Development Committee) and 6 families in Bagarkot VDC. NRCS has been providing non-food items to the affected families.

OCHA is in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator's office in Kathmandu and will revert with further information as it becomes available. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

Map: Nepal: Floods - Situation map

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
Ms. Masayo Kondo, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1997

Mr. Masaaki Nakagawa, Direct Tel. + 41-22-917 40 34

Press contact:
(GVA) Ms. M. Moulin-Acevedo, direct Tel. +41-22-917 3160
(N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-212-917 367-5126