Nepal: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 6

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2006/0186
OCHA Situation Report No. 6
Nepal – Floods

This situation report is based on the information received from the OCHA Office in Kathmandu.

Situation

1. The monsoon floods and landslides that started in late August have left some 14,000 families in the mid and far western affected districts in need of assistance. Crops and houses have been critically damaged and an impoverished population is threatened by possible disease outbreaks. A major concern now is how to distribute the food/relief items to all the affected population before the Dashain festival.

2. Relief operations in Banke and Bardiya districts are continuing with the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) sub-chapters distributing relief at full speed. According to the NRCS, there is sufficient food stock to cover the needs of the affected population for a month. Additional non-food items are likely to be needed. In terms of health needs, which were found to be more acute in Bardiya district, six mobile teams are currently operational. A UNFPA health team has also left for Achham district on 8 September.

3. Inter-agency sectoral assessments on damage/affected households, health and education are underway. WFP is also carrying out a quick assessment of crop, the results should be ready by mid-September.

National and International Response

4. The government has set up a “Prime Minister’s Relief Fund” to support immediate relief and response efforts.

5. The UN, international and national NGOs continue supporting the efforts of the District Disaster Relief Committee and the NRCS to ensure that needs are being met. Organisations involved include UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, UNDP, WFP, OCHA, CARE Nepal, Save the Children US, IRC, PLAN Nepal, LWF/Action Church Together, RRN, DFID-CSP, GTZ, FIDA International, OXFAM, Swiss Red Cross, Danish Red Cross Federation, BEE Group, Caritas, Action Aid, INF, amongst others.

6. On 5 September, WFP signed an agreement with NRCS to provide NPR. 30 million (USD 405,400 approx) to support the food needs of disaster affected victims in Banke, Bardiya, Achham and Mugu districts. Under this scheme, 410 grams of rice, 60 grams of pulse, and one packet of salt will be provided to a person each day. This assistance will be provided for a month to victims in Banke, Achham and Mugu and for 37 days to victims in Bardiya. Plan Nepal has also signed an agreement with NRCS to provide emergency food support, amounting to NPR. 700,000 (USD 9,430 approx) for Banke and Bardiya districts. In addition, Plan Nepal has already provided medicine support to the district public health offices in both the districts amounting to NPR. 325, 000 (US$ 4,390). On 4th September, CARE delivered food items (rice, pulses and cooking oil) to the landslide victims in Accham.

7. The Chinese government has provided NPR. 750,000 (USD 1,100) to NRCS.

8. UNICEF, in an agreement with NRCS will provide tools for building latrines ad where necessary/possible, tools to repair water points.

9. CARITAS, LWF, RRN, NRCS and Bee group formed a task force that will assess the shelter needs of the affected population and review longer term rehabilitation/resettlement needs.

10. The OCHA office in Nepal has continuously been supporting the district government’s coordination structure and coordinating disaster response meetings. Additional information can be obtained by visiting the Nepal Information Platform www.un.org.np.

11. OCHA is in close contact with its 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.