Nepal: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 7

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2006/0188

OCHA Situation Report No. 7
Nepal - Floods

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

Situation

1. According to the latest assessments conducted by the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS), a total of 26 districts have been affected by this year's seasonal floods and landslides. The estimated total number of affected families is around 16,000 but it will likely increase as assessments in newly affected districts, including Chitwan, Makwanpur, Tanahun, Tehrathum and Nawalparasi are still underway.

2. In the most affected districts - Banke, Bardiya and Achham - deliveries of immediate relief assistance continue despite the bad weather which has occasionally hampered transportation of goods to the most remote areas such as Achham. In addition, the volatile political environment which resulted in road blocks along major roads in the west and far west is also of concern to the relief agencies. For instance no distributions took place in Bardya district on 13 September due to the CPN (Maoist) protests.

3. The countdown to Dashain, one of the most important national celebrations, is also increasingly worrying relief workers who see the urgent need to have delivered as much assistance as possible to the needy before the holiday period and the festivities begin.

National and International Response

4. According to the NRCS, to date over 45,000 persons have received relief assistance. They foresee that food needs for the next two weeks will be met and WFP stands ready to expand its support should this be required. WFP expects to deliver a total of 1,300 metric tonnes of rice, lentils, salt and oil to the affected persons in the western regions.

5. To cover the existing gaps in terms of non-food items, Oxfam, MS Nepal and AUSAID have already committed to support the NRCS with non food kits and cash.

6. In the health sector, as reported by WHO, UNFPA, IRC and INF (who have set up mobile camps in the affected districts), no epidemics have occurred. WHO, along with the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) and the District Health Office, will continue monitoring the situation - especially in relation to vector borne diseases.

7. In the meantime, assessment of the longer term needs in the areas of shelter and education are also underway. A total of 5,700 educational kits will be provided by UNICEF, Save the Children Alliance and Plan for the disaster affected districts. This has requested the Department of Education to refurbish the schools in the affected districts.

8. An inter-agency verification committee comprising of NRCS, OCHA, UNDP, WFP, UNICEF, LWF and DFID is validating a random sample of assessments and response efforts undertaken in both Banke and Bardya.

9. The UN, donor agencies as well as international and national NGOs continue supporting the efforts of the District Disaster Relief Committee and the NRCS to ensure that needs are being met - These 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.

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.

Tel: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
Email: ochagva@un.org

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

Desk Officers:
(GVA) Ms. Paola Emerson, Direct tel + 41-22-917 1613

Press contact:
(GVA) Ms. Elisabeth Byrs, Direct tel: + 41-22-917 2653
(NY) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Direct tel: + 1-917 367 5126