Nepal: Floods and Landslides OCHA Situation Report No. 1

Nepal: Floods and Landslides OCHA Situation Report No. 1
This report was developed by the OCHA Office in Nepal based in Kathmandu.

Source: ReliefwebSITUATION

1. Incessant monsoon rains continue to cause floods and landslides throughout Nepal, mainly in the Terai in the far-west, west and east regions.

2. In the last two weeks the Ministry of Home Affairs and Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) estimate that flooding and landslides have caused 84 deaths, displaced more than 9,700 families, and affected 48,000 families (270,000 people) in 32 districts throughout Nepal.

3. The initial response focus has been on rescue and relief efforts, with the army and rafting companies also deployed to evacuate stranded flood affected people.

4. More than 10,000 families have been provided short-term food rations of ready to eat food and more than 3,000 families received non-food items (NFI), including tarpaulin sheets. Water purification supplies were provided to over 30,000 people.

Need Assessments

5. Cross sectoral needs assessments were conducted, led by over 1,000 volunteers from the Nepal Red Cross Society, together with the government District Disaster Relief Committees, UN and international and national NGOs. Inter-agency assessments, including aerial reconnaissance flights undertaken in various districts, focusing in particular on the most affected Village Development Committees (VDCs). A number of VDCs remain isolated by high water levels, preventing detailed assessments being conducted.

6. Food, portable water and temporary shelter were identified as major needs. Health issues have also been of particular concern in at least five districts, with reports of fever, acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, vector-borne diseases and snake bites.

7. Preliminary assessment suggests that initial humanitarian relief needs can be met from resources mobilised locally, most of which is channelled through the Nepal Red Cross Society. Nevertheless, mid to long term recovery and reconstruction efforts are likely to demand significant additional resources, including the replenishment of contingency stocks used in the initial response.

8. Despite initial data on damage to agricultural land, private and public property and other infrastructure exists, accurate and comprehensive data will be collated once the flood situation stabilises. Figures for those affected by the disaster are under constant revision as new and more detailed assessments are completed, allowing more sector-specific data to be gathered, information which will be used in projections for additional required resources.

9. Flood waters are largely stagnant, including in urban and peri-urban areas, increasing the likelihood of inundated houses collapsing, in particular those of adobe construction. Hundreds of hectares of paddy fields have been ‘sand-castled’.

10. The strengthening of public health surveillance systems is an immediate priority to avoid a major outbreak of water borne diseases, including malaria, as occurred in the 2006 floods.

Security

11. Security has been a concern, particularly in flooded districts of the eastern Terai region, the scene of ongoing conflict. The Humanitarian Coordinator issued a press statement urging all groups allow unhindered humanitarian access.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

1. The Government of Nepal has played a key role in rescue efforts and has given authority to the district government to divert funds from other budget lines for immediate relief purposes, which in some districts has been passed on to the Nepal Red Cross Society. The Ministry of Finance also released additional resources.

2. The Minister of Home Affairs is committed to the Government of Nepal’s lead coordination role and has activated coordinating bodies within the Government, including the Disaster Emergency Relief Committee.

3. Field level coordination is through the District Disaster Relief Committees with the Nepal Red Cross Society, supported by OCHA, in the Mid and Far West, and Eastern Regions, where a number of sector working groups were established.

4. The Nepal Red Cross Society releases daily bulletins summarising the NRCS ongoing assessments and response.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

1. Most assistance is provided through the Nepal Red Cross Society, with major material contributions made by UNICEF, Save the Children US and the Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance. Several UN agencies, including UNICEF and WFP, as well as a number of international and national NGOs have provided technical staff to NRCS field-based offices to assist with assessments and targeting assistance.

2. CARE, CARITAS, IRC, RRN, Save the Children Japan and Norway and World Vision provided assistance to disaster affected people through other local partners.

3. UNDP and UNMIN provided helicopter logistics support.

4. UNFPA and WHO have been working closely with the Ministry of Health to assess and monitor the situation.

5. Private sector support has been mobilised for both cash and in-kind contributions at the central and district levels, including with the initiation of UNDP.

6. The Ministry of Home Affairs has formerly requested the World Food Programme provide food assistance to 10,000 families for three months.

7. The OCHA Office in Nepal complies and updates flood disaster related information on the new dedicated section of the Nepal Information Platform at www.un.org.np.

8. 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.

For detailed information please contact:

OCHA Nepal

Mr. Paul Handley
OCHA HoO
Tel. +97 715548553
Email: handley@un.org

Mr. Greg Grimsich
Reports Officer
Tel. +97 781526238
Email : grimsich@un.org

NRCS Nepal

Umesh Dhakal / Sanjeev Kafle

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok)

Mr. Rajan Gengaje
Regional Disaster Response Adviser
Tel. + 66-2288-2572
Fax: +66-2288-1043
Mob. + 66-8-1916-1271
Email: gengaje@un.org

Desk Officer: (NY)

Ms. Kendra Clegg
OCHA CRD
Tel. +1-917 367 3524
Email: clegg@un.org

Press contact: (NY)

Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Tel. +1-917 367 5126

(GVA)

Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel. +41-22-917 2653