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SITUATION OVERVIEW
Between 27 and 28 September, heavy and continuous rainfall across Nepal caused widespread damage and disruption, affecting people in multiple districts. Incessant rain triggered landslides, flooding, and roadblocks, severely impacting transportation, daily activities, and overall safety across the country. As of 30 September, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), 192 people have been killed, 194 injured and 30 missing while 4500 people have been rescued. 44 districts across the country have been highly affected. Rescue operations by Nepal's Armed Forces faced significant challenges due to ongoing rainfall, damaged or blocked roads hampering access to affected areas. The 29 September 2024 Situation Report produced by the MoHA, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) states there has been significant damage to infrastructure, including 22 hydroelectric power plants and 9 transmission lines, resulting in the disruption of 1,000 MW of power generation.
As per civil society estimates, over 7,600 families and 2,100 homes in informal settlements and impoverished areas near rivers in Kathmandu and Lalitpur have been severely affected. In Kathmandu Valley small and medium sized business owner along the rivers were highly impacted. Heavy damage has been observed in their assets and property affecting their long-term economic conditions. The impact of the damage to households, infrastructure and livelihoods is yet to be fully appraised.
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
Government of Nepal:
- On 30 September the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Executive Committee chaired by Minister-MoHA, decided as:
- Government will provide NPR: 200, 000 (USD 1500.00) to the families of the deceased or missing (anyone missing for more than 10 days will considered dead).
- Concerned ministries to immediately proceed with the reconstruction of damaged government and public buildings, roads, bridges, drinking water facilities, schools, health institutions, and other structures.
- Recommended to the Council of Ministers to approve “Shock Responsive Social Protection” guideline.
- Local Government (rural/municipal) need to identify the affected beneficiaries within seven days and grants will be provided within 3 days of verification.
- As per “Temporary Housing Construction Grant Standards”, people whose houses have been damaged will be provided with NPR: 50, 000 (USD:400) in two tranches) for the construction of temporary housing.
- Provincial Disaster Management Committees and Local Disaster Management Committees are requested to carry out post-disaster search, rescue, relief, treatment, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and recovery activities as per the responsibilities specified by the act of government of Nepal.
- Humanitarian assistance will be mobilized as needed, in accordance with relevant decisions, through the United Nations agencies, the Red Cross, and other partner organizations based in Nepal.
As per the initial assessments of different authorities, immediate needs are as follows:
- Temporary shelter, tents for displaced families.
- Provision of immediate food, emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene facilities and other humanitarian supplied for displaced people.
- Rescue and relief for those stranded on highways due to flash floods and landslides.
- Restoration of communication networks and electricity in affected areas.
- Debris clearance and repair of disrupted road networks and highways.
- Restoration for the people’s properties that are washed away by the flooding (especially for small and medium enterprises- SMEs) alongside of the river in Kathmandu valley.
- Debris clearance and repair of disrupted road networks and highways.
Humanitarian Clusters:
The UN has activated CERF Anticipatory Action for Eastern Nepal and is proceeding with the identification of affected people for support.
Clusters have started to meet over the weekend, today (30 September) and tomorrow and are coordinating the response.
Nepal Red Cross Society District chapters has mobilized volunteers, and staff are conducting search and rescue, evacuation, relief distribution and IRA. District chapters have been distributing NFRI sets from the stock. So far, 1500 people have received NFRI items (tarpaulin, mattress and blankets) to the affected families and distribution is ongoing.
The protection cluster has prepositioned protection items (dignity kits, kishori kits, children kits, recreational kits) in strategic locations and will be mobilized as required. 18 child helplines are operational 24/7 to provide any support required for flood and landslide victims. The helpline is also operating shelters which can accommodate 200 flood/landslide affected children.
Shelter cluster member organizations have been mobilizing available resources to meet the immediate needs of affected populations in different locations. As of 29 September, the Nepal Red Cross Society had reached 200 households in Bhaktapur, Kathmandu and many other places. Save the Children have assisted 200 households.