Geneva/Kuala Lumpur, 22 August 2017 — Fears are rising for hundreds of villages stranded by flood waters in large areas of Nepal, Bangladesh and India.

“This is the worst flooding that parts of South Asia have seen in decades. Entire communities have been cut off. The only way to get aid to some of these villages is by boat and many are running out of food,” said Jagan Chapagain, Under Secretary General for Programmes and Operations, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

“The situation is going from bad to worse. In Nepal, as waters finally recede, our teams are finding communities that have lost homes, identity documents – everything. In Bangladesh and India, the number of people affected is rising by the hour as waters rush south.”

Overall, more than 24 million people are believed affected by the flooding in the three countries, with more than 700 people thought dead. Over 1,800 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are working alongside local authorities to prevent further deaths and help communities withstand and recover from the floods.

Clean water and sanitation are major priorities in each of the affected countries with increasing incidents of some diseases already being reported.

“The floodwaters have become a breeding ground for deadly diseases such as diarrhoea and malaria. We fear that other diseases such as dengue and Japanese encephalitis are also on the rise,” Mr Chapagain said.

In low-lying Bangladesh, the Red Crescent has described the flooding as some of the worst the country has ever seen.

“Floodwaters are sweeping from the north of Bangladesh to the centre, submerging whole villages. Many communities are isolated, with no access by land. Millions have been forced to camp on any patch of dry land they can find,” said BMM Mozharul Huq, Secretary General, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

“We are delivering aid, food, water and other vital supplies but this disaster is one of the biggest we have ever faced. We are appealing for global support,” Mr Mozharul Huq said.

IFRC is supporting Red Cross and Red Crescent operations in each of the affected countries. In Nepal, IFRC and Nepal Red Cross are launching a global appeal for about 3.5 million Swiss francs to support 81,000 people living in the most seriously affected parts of the country. IFRC has provided a start-up loan of 500,000 Swiss francs to ensure that resources are immediately available.

In Bangladesh, IFRC and the Bangladesh Red Crescent expect to launch a similarly targeted appeal in the coming days.

In India, IFRC released 320,000 Swiss francs from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) at the end of July, with a second allocation expected to follow soon.

“People across the region urgently need our help. But their needs are now so immense they will not be met without international support,” said IFRC’s Chapagain.

For further information, please contact:

In Nepal
Dibya Raj Poudel, +977 9851191968, disse@nrcs.org
Francis Markus, +977 9823 740 166

In Bangladesh
Raqibul Alam, +88 01714069707, raqibul.alam@ifrc.org

In India
Leon Prop, +91 98 1000 1534, leon.prop@ifrc.org

In Kuala Lumpur
Antony Balmain, +60 122308451, antony.balmain@ifrc.org

In Geneva
Matthew Cochrane, +41 79 251 8039, matthew.cochrane@ifrc.org

Heavy monsoon rains have caused landslides and floods affecting more than 16 million people across northern India, southern Nepal and Bangladesh. Hundreds of people have been killed and millions have been displaced from their homes which have been destroyed or damaged. Agricultural lands have been submerged resulting in lost livelihoods for many communities. In all three countries people are facing severe food shortages and disease caused by polluted flood waters.

Teams from many DEC member charities are working alongside government authorities to help communities be safe and prepare for worsening floods. Member charities are supplying emergency food packages, shelter materials, clean drinking water, hygiene kits and other items.

The following DEC member charities are responding to the emergency in South Asia:

• CARE International
• Christian Aid
• Concern
• Islamic Relief
• Plan International UK
• Save the Children
• World Vision

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is monitoring the situation and is currently not launching an appeal. For information on when we launch a DEC appeal click here.

AT A GLANCE

• 16 million people affected
• 10,000 homes destroyed and 100 schools closed in Nepal
• Nearly 3,000 villages underwater in Assam state, India
• More than 600,000 people forced to flee their homes in Bangladesh
• Tearfund’s local partners on the ground now

Hundreds of people have been killed and millions left without shelter by extensive flooding across India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Heavier than usual monsoon rains have left vast swathes of land underwater, as well as causing landslides across the region. Nearly 800 people are thought to have been killed, with the situation expected to worsen.

Responding to the crisis

As well as people losing their homes and businesses, large areas of farmland have been destroyed. The floods have struck at the beginning of the planting season, leading to fears of severe food shortages in the future. Flood waters also carry a high risk of spreading infectious disease.

Tearfund have been well established in all three countries for several decades, and we are currently working with our partners and alongside local governments to help the most vulnerable. Many people have lost everything in the floods, and our focus is currently on meeting the most immediate needs of shelter, food and safe water.

Our local partners have set up emergency health camps, and are distributing essential items such as tents, blankets and clothes. Medical support will be given to those who are suffering from waterborne diseases, such as skin diseases, diarrhoea, cholera and dysentery.

We are also providing cooking equipment, food supplies and hygiene kits to those most in need. In Bangladesh, work has already begun to support people in repairing their homes. Meanwhile, tools and materials for agricultural recovery have been distributed to hundreds of families.

Tearfund and our partners are on the ground now, and will stay for as long as it takes. Once people’s short-term needs have been provided for, we will be there to help people rebuild their lives and plan for the future.

‘They are doing everything they can'

However, the extent of the flooding has made many areas difficult to access. ‘I'm hearing stories of communities who are still unreachable unless by helicopter,’ says Douwe Dijkstra, Tearfund’s Country Director for Nepal. ‘Many mud houses have collapsed and people are living in schools and in open areas without clean water and toilets.’

‘This year’s flood has a much larger geographic spread than the last big one in 2008,’ adds Prince David, our Country Representative in India. ‘In Bihar, one of our partner’s hospitals was flooded. Yet they are doing everything they can, working closely with the local government to help people.’

With such a large area affected, and with many places almost impossible to reach, the full extent of the damage remains unknown. What is clear, however, is that the impact of these floods will last long into the future.

Tearfund and our partners are on the ground now, and will stay for as long as it takes. Once people’s short-term needs have been provided for, we will be there to help people rebuild their lives and plan for the future. What’s more, our resilience work will continue to train and equip communities to be prepared for disasters such as this.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (August 21, 2017)— Central and southern Bangladesh are bracing for devastation as flood waters that wreaked havoc in the country’s north begin the long journey to the Bay of Bengal.

More than 20 million people have been impacted by the region’s worst flooding in years. The death toll across the three countries stands at almost 700, including more than 440 in India alone.

"As the torrent of water moves down Bangladesh toward the Bay of Bengal we’re expecting to see the flooding get significantly worse in central and southern parts of the country, particularly for those communities close by the big tributaries," said Mark Pierce, Save the Children Country Director in Bangladesh.

"An enormous volume of water has to pass through the country, and people need to take care, stay away from flood waters and evacuate their homes as necessary. The humanitarian situation remains extremely serious and will be for some time.

"The sheer scale of this crisis means there still isn’t enough food or clean drinking water. More than half a million homes have been damaged while over 400,000 hectares of farmland was destroyed. We’re doing all we can to help, but much more assistance is urgently needed."

Thomas Chandy, CEO of Save the Children in India, warned of a secondary health crisis as flood waters began to retreat in some flood-affected communities.

"Even though we’re seeing flood waters receding in some parts, it provides little respite as the mammoth recovery operation is only just beginning," Chandy said.

"One of the big challenges is preventing potential outbreaks of disease like cholera or diarrhea, which is an increased risk at this time. A lot of water sources have been contaminated by the floods, and many children are living in damp conditions that are conducive to getting sick.

"Save the Children’s priority right now is to help families to stay healthy as they begin to return home to assess the damage and plan their futures."

More than 7,000 schools in India alone have been damaged or destroyed, raising fears that children could be out of class for a long time to come.

"The floods are having a huge impact on education, causing untold damage to thousands of schools, destroying books and other learning material," Chandy added.

"It’s so important that we can get schools up and running and re-opened as quickly as possible because school is the absolute best place for children to be right now."

Meanwhile in Nepal, the relief operation is in full swing as flood waters continue to recede following several days of clear weather. About 500,000 have been affected by floods and landslides across the country.

Save the Children is responding to the floods in all three countries, distributing hundreds of tarps for temporary shelter in Nepal, and running special playgroups for children in India to help them recover, as well as distributing hygiene items and temporary shelter materials.

Save the Children is also in the process of distributing relief items including hygiene kits, kitchen kits and cash for basic necessities like food and water to families in Kurigram and Sirajganj, the two worst affected districts of Bangladesh.

Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We invest in childhood — every day, in times of crisis and for our future. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Not everything happens for good reason. The devastating floods triggered by unceasing rains in the second week of August 2017 spelled a disaster in the life of Bale Nepali, a resident of Bhajani municipality in Kailali. The flood not only destroyed his house and peanut farm but also swept away cattle and chickens, rendering his six-member family starving and homeless.

“The floods came early in the morning and it changed our normal life to a tragedy,” says Nepali, who lives near the Pathariya River. “While we were trying to escape, the flood water came in through the door of my house,” he says.

Nepali was one of the recipients of ACT member LWF Nepal’s relief package in Bharthaha village of Bhajani Municipality. LWF provided relief to 123 flood-affected families in the village. They were given beaten rice, instant noodle, water, rice and pulse. The people had been starved for more than 3 days.

As of August 22, 2017, LWF Nepal has provided immediate relief to a total of 574 flood-affected families in Morang, Jhapa and Kailali districts. LWF Nepal has reached 258 flood-affected families in Jhapa and 210 households in Kailali and 106 families in Morang districts with relief packages that included food, kitchen utensil sets, blankets and urgent clothing items. LWF Nepal and its implementing partner in coordination with District Disaster Relief Committee (DDRC) provided the relief materials.

ACT Members’ Response

Members of ACT Alliance Nepal Forum have been responding to the humanitarian crisis in different districts. Dan Church Aid (DCA) has been providing relief package that include food, tarpaulins and mosquito nets to flood-hit people in Saptari and Bardiya districts. Most importantly, DCA deployed its staff in Saptari immediately after the flood and partnered with local radio to produce and broadcast information on the flood.

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) has provided food items to 2,376 families in Bardiya and Nawalparasi districts while Christian Aid has been distributing non-food items to flood victims in Bardiya, Banke and Dang. Similarly, ICCO Cooperation has been providing food items to 600 families in Rautahat district.

Quick and Timely Response

Members of ACT Alliance in Nepal have responded to the emergency immediately. People in Jhapa Rural Municipality (RM) in Jhapa district responded that LWF Nepal was the first organization to reach to their village with relief materials. “LWF Nepal and its implementing partners, which have been working on Disaster Risk Reduction and Livelihood promotion in the village, reached first,” says Jaya Narayan Shah, chairperson of the RM.

Similarly, DCA reached to flood affected area in Saptari immediately and it partnered with a local radio to produce and broadcast information on the flood. The radio program was effective to disseminate the information to the affected communities and to collaborate with other agencies working in the district,” says Cecial Adhikari, Program Manager-Recovery Program in DCA.

ACT Members Plan Joint Response

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), the flood has killed 143 people and injured 43 and 30 have gone missing. There has been a huge loss of property particularly the stock food grains, standing crops, seeds, livestock, poultry and fish whose accurate data is yet to come.

According to the MoHA, as of Tuesday, around 80,000 houses have been completely destroyed and 144,444 partially damaged. As per the initial reports received from the affected districts, 75 schools in Banke, 58 in Bardiya, 2 in Dang, 20 in Saptari, 178 in Parsa, 37 schools and 5 madrasas in Dhanusha, and 8 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers in Chitwan have been damaged.

ACT Alliance Nepal forum is developing a joint plan to respond to the humanitarian crisis. “Considering the devastation in 18 affected districts in the southern part of Nepal, ACT Alliance is devising a joint plan to support affected population,” says Dr Prabin Manandhar, Country Director of LWF Nepal and Convener of ACT Alliance Nepal Forum.

Story written by Umesh Pokharel/LWF Nepal

Floods and landslides have hit southern Nepal over the past week, causing 123 deaths. At least 35 people are missing, while thousands of houses were inundated across the Terai province. The disaster has so far affected more than 1 million people, according to the Office of the Resident Coordinator Nepal. Farmers report that the rains have destroyed at least 80% of the region’s arable land.

With water levels continuing to rise across the country, and heavy rain in the forecast, authorities expect Nepal’s death toll to rise. Displaced people have been suffering from various infections due to contaminated drinking water and environmental pollution caused by the floods. Water borne diseases, fever, common cold, gastritis, conjunctivitis and skin infections are common among the flood victims. Children, women, older people and people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to disease and food shortages.

Floods also caused the loss of material goods, the destruction of homes and the displacement of people to temporary shelters.

“Handicap International is committed to providing assistance to the most vulnerable population affected by the floods in close coordination with local authorities and other humanitarian agencies”, says Willy Bergogne, HI head of mission in Nepal.

Handicap International is currently working on a joint intervention with Christian Aid in two of the most affected districts. The intervention will include Non Food items distribution, like hygiene kits, shelter and unconditional cash transfers, in close collaboration with the Government and local stakeholders.

Handicap International has worked in Nepal for 17 years, with around 80 staff. It responded to the needs of the victims of the earthquake that struck Nepal in April 2015, which killed more than 8,000 people and injured 22,000 others.

KATHMANDU, Nepal – Working with local governments and farmers’ cooperatives, Heifer International has provided relief supplies to 11,000 families recovering from flooding that has ravaged Nepal’s biggest food-producing region.

The monsoon rains have submerged about 80 percent of the nation’s southern agricultural belt, washing away livestock and the recently planted rice crop. The flooding has affected more than 21,000 farming families that Heifer works with in the region.

“Although the rain has stopped and the flood waters are receding, life is still extremely challenging for families,” said Sumnima Shrestha, a spokeswoman for Heifer in Nepal. “People have to rebuild their houses, replace their livestock and replant their fields. A lot of support will be needed to help tens of thousands of families recover.”

In coordination with the government’s relief effort, Heifer has provided relief supplies to 11,000 families – about 58,500 people – in eight districts in the flood zone. The supplies have included 170,000 kilograms of rice, 15,500 kilograms of flour, 13,000 liters of cooking oil and 47,000 packets of noodles.

A key force in the flood relief effort has been farmer cooperatives that Heifer has helped establish in the region. The organizations – which can include a few hundred members to more than a 1,000 – serve as business hubs, providing veterinary care, fertilizers and financial services. They also give farmers better access to markets and greater bargaining power when negotiating prices for their crops and livestock.

When a major disaster strikes, the cooperatives can quickly mobilize to help their fellow farmers. Heifer has been working closely with 35 of the groups that are making a great impact.

“The cooperatives have taken the lead on the ground. They are farmers helping farmers,” said Neena Joshi, the director of programs for Heifer in Nepal. “They’re legally registered bodies, led by local people, and they have great connections with local government and disaster officials. They provide the best structure that assures the aid is reaching the right people.”

Overview

Beginning Friday, 11 August 2017 Nepal has experienced its worst rains in 15 years, resulting in large scale impacts on life, livelihood and infrastructure across 28 of Nepal’s 75 districts.

Statistical  Situation: Summary

Dead 141

Missing   35

Injured 133

Displaced Families   88596

Affected Families   342198

Houses Destroyed    

Completely 66057

Partially 132176

NFRIs distribution

NFRIs full set 3082

Shelter kit 3

Tarpaulin 5652

Hygiene kit 1567

Volunteers mobilized 1289

FA service 137

Food distribution in shelter 41407

Utensil 508

Mosquito net 2516

Blanket 2261

Matress 1682

NDRT Deployment 24

ORS 14000

Aqua Tablet 6059

Soap 744

From 11th August onwards, severe floodings took place in Nepal and Bangladesh due to incessant rains. ICCO Cooperation, together with Kerk in Actie and ACT Alliance, helps the victims of the floods.

The death toll of the floods in Bangladesh has risen to 114 and approximately 6.9 million people have been affected by the floods. At least 110,400 hectares of cultivated land have been destroyed. In Nepal, the government has reported 141 deaths and nearly 160,000 families have been displaced. The ministry of Agricultural Development has reported that crops worth tens of millions of dollars have been destroyed and nearly 70,000 livestock lost.

“Our teams in Nepal and Bangladesh are already on the ground after completing the needs assessment” says Pepijn Trapman, Regional Manager of ICCO South & Central Asia. “Together with our local partners, KiA and ACT Alliance, we will be providing emergency support to 2000 families in Gaiabndha district of Bangladesh and 600 families in Rautahat district of Nepal”.

The flood affected persons find themselves in a desperate situation, with many unmet vital humanitarian needs such as access to sufficient food, safe shelter, safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, livelihood activities and adequate nutrition.

Fifty families languish on postal highway in Kailali

Displaced CNP rhino rescued

Pvt organisations to rescue

PRADEEP MENYANGBO (/author/pradeep+menyangbo), DHARAN

Aug 23, 2017-

The flood-displaced families of Dharan Sub-metropolis in Sunsari district have been surviving on food donated by Nepal Red Cross Society and other social organisations for the last 13 days. These are 93 families from wards 5, 6, 11, 16, 17 and 20 of the sub-metropolis who are off the government’s relief radar so far.

The government has announced a month-long daily food allowance of Rs 70 per person in the flood-affected areas and Rs 200,000 cash relief to every displaced family. But the local government agencies have not reached Dharan’s displaced, who also did not get emergency relief from the District Disaster Relief Committee (DDRC).

There was no such thing as first response to disaster when heavy floodings wreaked destruction in the sub-metropolis, said Bhuwan Singh Basnet, ward chairman of Dharan-6. “Many families have lost their homes and they are now living in makeshift huts. They have been living off the food donated by the Red Cross, locals and social organisations,” Basnet said.

It is the job of concerned DDRC to launch and coordinate first response in the disaster-hit areas. But the DDRC, Sunsari, is noticeably absent in the flood-affected areas.

Chief District Officer (CDO) Gopal Prasad Parajuli, who also heads the DDRC, blamed the officials of Dharan Sub-metropolis for the delay in relief distribution.

He was of the view that relief materials should not be distributed willy-nilly without ascertaining the number of families affected by the disaster. “The sub-metropolis has not sent the data of flood victims. We will distribute relief after the process is completed,” CDO Parajuli said.

Deputy Mayor of Dharan Sub-metropolis Manju Bhandari does not agree with Parajuli’s argument. According to her, the first priority of the district administration office in any case of disaster ought to be emergency response— rescuing lives and supplying immediate relief, in other words. “We are still collecting data of the flood victims. But that does not mean the district administration should withhold relief because it does not have the figures on how many families are suffering,” Bhandari said.

While the officials at the District Administration Office and the newly elected people’s representatives of Dharan Sub-metropolis debate over the supposed correct course of action to hand out relief, the flood-displaced families are being deprived of basic survival needs.

Fifty families languish on postal highway in Kailali

TIKAPUR: Around 50 families from Bhajani Municipality in Kailali district are still living on a nearby postal highway after they were displaced by floods two weeks ago. Ramjanam Chaudhary, one of the displaced, said on Tuesday that they had no homes to go back to. Around 2,500 families had moved to the highway in the wake of the flood. Chaudhary said most of the families returned after the floodwaters receded in their settlements. Only 50 or so families, who lost their homes in the floods, remain now. (PR)

Basdilwa survivors get assistance

PARSA: More than 100 flood victims received relief materials in Basdilwa, Parsa, on Tuesday. The District Woman and Children Office (DWCO), Maiti Nepal and other organisations had collected and supplied the relief materials to the flood-affected families here. Indira Shrestha, chief of the DWCO, said they were distributing relief prioritising the areas where there are many women and children. (PR)

Displaced CNP rhino rescued

CHITWAN: A rare one-horned rhino from the Chitwan National Park, which was swept away by the Rapti river flood across the border to India, was rescued and released to its habitat on Tuesday. Park officials said the adult rhino was the third one to be rescued in the wake of recent flood. The CNP assistant conservation officer, Abhiyan Pathak, said they were preparing to rescue a baby rhino next. (PR)

Pvt organisations to rescue RAJBIRAJ: More than 800 flood-affected households from Maina Kaderi area in Saptari were provided with relief materials from Digicon Consultant Pvt Ltd on Monday. The relief materials, including beaten rice, biscuits, instant noodles and water, were transported on bullock carts as the road leading to the village was damaged by flood. Ram Udar Yadav, managing director of Digcon, said 40 people, who were displaced by the Mehuli river flood at Hanumannagar Kankalani Municipality-2, were also provided with relief materials. Bhairochana Foundation Kathmandu also distributed relief materials to the flood-affected people of Sakarapur Village in Saptari. According to the foundation, three tonnes of rice, 200 kg of lentils, 50 kg of soybean, 50 kg of salt and 200 litres of cooking oil were distributed to 982 families. (RSS)

Published: 23-08-2017 08:12

More than 800 people have been killed and 24 million affected following widespread floods across south Asia.

Severe flooding has devastated communities and destroyed crops in India, Nepal and Bangladesh, with NGOs warning of food shortages and the risk of disease.

In Bangladesh, where the floods are thought to be the most severe in 100 years, more than a third of the country has been submerged. Najibullah Hameem, chief of field office for the UN children’s agency, Unicef, in Bangladesh, told the Guardian on Monday that water levels are now going down, but that aid workers are running out of crucial supplies needed to protect communities from disease. At least 115 people have died and more than 5.7 million are affected.

Read more on the Guardian

FLOODING IMPACT

1.7M people affected (millions) / as per IRA

461K people displaced / as per IRA

143 dead / as per MoHA

30 missing / as per MoHA

43 injured / as per MoHA

35 districts affected out of 75 / as per MoHA

65,000 houses destroyed / as per IRA

Food security impact of the flood:

Nepal was hit by the worst rains in 15 years that started on 11 August 2017. It caused severe flooding in the Terai with huge impacts on livelihoods, food security and nutrition due to losses in lives, assets, housing, infrastructure including water and sanitation, food stocks and agricultural production. The full impact is still unknown, but the NeKSAP estimates that more than 0.94 million people in impacted areas are currently food insecure. Almost 300,000 people or 58,300 households would need food assistance on a priority basis. Based on evidence from previous flood disasters, the risk of acute malnutrition will be hugely magnified. Prevention is therefore key. Within the identified priority one areas, the number of children under the age of five is approximately 190,000 and there are 84,000 pregnant or lactating women.

Six district were most affected including Saptari, Siraha, Mahottari, Rautahat, Banke and Bardiya. This report will provide further breakdown for these districts (see Annex 1 and 2).

This Emergency Appeal seeks 3,531,719 Swiss francs to enable the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) to deliver assistance and support to 16,200 families (81,000 people) for 12 months, with a focus on the following sectors: health, shelter (and non-food relief items), water, sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH), food security and livelihoods. The planned response reflects the current situation and information available at this time of the evolving operation, and will be adjusted based on further developments and more detailed assessments. Details of this appeal are available in the Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA)

The disaster and the Red Cross Red Crescent response to date

11-14 August 2017: Torrential rains causing massive floods and several landslides occur in 31 districts throughout the country

12 August 2017: The NRCS activates its Emergency Operation Center (EOC) to coordinate relief efforts and deploy trained volunteers to conduct rapid assessments and provide relief services to the affected people.

17 August 2017: 497,099 Swiss Francs is allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the NRCS to respond to the needs of the affected people.

22 August 2017: The IFRC issues an Emergency Appeal for 3,531,819 Swiss Francs to assist 16,200 families (81,000 people) for 12 months.

KEY FINDINGS

In July 2017 the Inter-Agency Common Feedback Project (CFP) collected feedback from 2100 respondents, randomly selected from earthquake affected communities across the 14 priority affected districts on reconstruction and food security and livelihood issues. Two thematic surveys are always conducted together, but this is the first time CFP is releasing the results together, and will henceforth produce bi-monthly feedback reports. The findings of this report have also been supported and triangulated through qualitative feedback collection via focus group discussions, and aggregation of feedback from partner organisations.

The results of this survey round point to some improvements in food security and livelihoods over the past food security and livelihood (FSL) survey round (March 2017), but a relative plateau in reconstruction perception progress. This slow down in progress is observed against the last reconstruction survey round in May 2017, which could be at least partially attributed to the onset of the monsoon season, when reconstruction is slowed down by rain. However, a general decline in the rate of progress has been noted through the Community Perception Survey since March 2017, which points to other factors being responsible for this slow down.

With the next building season set to start in a month of two, the reconstruction community should use this feedback from communities to try to understand how to expedite the process going forward, without further disadvantaging those who are already vulnerable.

Common Feedback Project remains concerned about the setting of deadlines on tranche disbursements. From all the feedback the project received from communities it is clear that the vast majority want to build as quickly as possible, but some are unable to overcome the structural and financial barriers necessary to do so in a short time-frame.

It is no surprise that Dalit respondents have the highest rate of labour migration to support recovery, as well as the highest likelihood of having not even cleared the rubble of their destroyed home. Putting a deadline on their ability to equally benefit from the housing grant will only leave them further behind, as Nepal is trying to move towards economic recovery.

Furthermore, it is quite apparent from all of the feedback gathered from earthquake affected communities to date that women have not been meaningfully engaged in the reconstruction process, or treated as agents of the recovery. This is a problem that existed from day one, when grants were only placed in the names of men, even when they were out of the country, and persists today, as we seek women with less information, less knowledge of safer building practices, less ability to commit their own resources, and being overlooked for training opportunities that could allow them to rebuild their homes.

The only question that saw an improvement in reconstruction this round was on engineer consultations.
Despite limited progress in other areas, more and more people continue to seek, and get consultations on their reconstruction from engineers deployed throughout the districts. It is positive that the commitment to building as safely as possible is still observed. What is concerning is that in some district, consultation rates remain very low, such as Sindhupalchok.

There has been a near halt in progress on communications, and no change in the differences between women and men, as well as vulnerable groups in their perceived ability to access information. Given that no concerted efforts have been made, at a strategic level, to reach out to those being left behind with reconstruction information, it is not surprising that no improvements on this front have been made in the past year. There are some people, some communities, that will need more than the typical communication methods to understand the process and take part in it.

Recommendations

• Bring women into the reconstruction process in a meaningful way. This means by treating them as full agents of the recovery, targeting them with information, engaging them in training and enabling them to take their reconstruction into their own hands. With more women in the rural areas than men, properly engaging women is the only way to improve the pace, and the quality of the reconstruction process.

• Organizations working in reconstruction should strive to strengthen engineers capacity, and provide them with better support, particularly in those districts where engineer consultations are low.

• Door to door social mobilization needs to be expanded in areas where communities are not understanding the reconstruction process. In order to ensure no one is left behind some individuals, families, communities, will need extra support to understand and navigate the process. Those communities need to be identified and targeted for the technical support already pledged by numerous organizations working in the reconstruction.

Emergency relief kits are being distributed to families hit by the worst flood since 2002

Kathmandu, 23 August 2017 ─ Habitat for Humanity Nepal is assisting families affected by what is reportedly the worst flood in 15 years through emergency relief and clean-up by volunteers. Habitat Nepal is planning a three-phase emergency relief, recovery and reconstruction response to help families hit by the devastating floods that ravaged 26 districts along the country’s southern plains.

Torrential rain from 10 August 2017 has caused widespread flooding and landslides in Nepal. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Nepal Red Cross, over 140 people have died and more than 79,000 homes have been destroyed with over 144,000 houses damaged. More than 319,200 families have been affected while over 87,600 families have been displaced.Lacking food and shelter, displaced families face the risk of outbreaks of water-borne diseases. The situation is further compounded by the fact that almost all government-run health facilities are in bad shape with flood water causing significant damage to medicines and equipment.

“Habitat Nepal is committed to help families get back on their feet,” said Cheryl Groff, National Director, Habitat for Humanity Nepal. “Shelter is crucial and an immediate priority for vulnerable families in the aftermath of the flooding. We are seeking additional funding to help families recover from this disaster.”

Please donate to help flood-affected families simplygiving.com/Appeal/helpnepal2017

The first phase has begun on 17 August with volunteers mobilized by Habitat Nepal helping to clean up waterlogged homes and the distribution of relief kits comprising items such as water bag pack, tarpaulin sheet, water purifier, mosquito net and nylon rope. More funding is needed to continue helping the families and to distribute transitional shelter kits in the second phase.Thanking Habitat volunteers, Anita Limbu, 60, who lives on her own, said: “I was anxious as I was not sure how to clean up my house on my own.  But you have removed most of the mud and debris, and I can clean the rest slowly by myself. You have given me courage. Now I can breathe again.”

-ends-

Notes to Editors

For more information, photographs or to set up interviews, please contact Lisa Nagarkoti at +977-9801073682, lisanagarkoti@habitatnepal.org or Michele Soh at +65 9233 1655, msoh@habitat.org.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia-Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported more than 2.2 million people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific

About Habitat for Humanity Nepal

Habitat for Humanity started working in Nepal in 1997 and is committed to help people create better lives for themselves and their families through its Chhana: Safe Shelter Resilient Communities Program. To date, Habitat Nepal and its supporters have worked with over 54,000 individuals through house construction and repair solutions, disaster response efforts, and improved water and sanitation. To learn more or volunteer, visit habitatnepal.org or follow facebook.com/HabitatForHumanityInternationalNepal

August 23rd, 2017 ― Doha: Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS) has sent a relief mission to Nepal in response to the recent floods, with funding from Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). The intervention is coordinated with the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS).

QRCS's Disaster Information Management Center (DIMC) was activated to monitor the situation and receive updates. Also, $250,000 was allocated from the Contingency Fund for initial response.

The mission will make a needs assessment and deliver shelter, water, sanitation, and nonfood aid over three months, for the benefit of 4,000 families (20,000 people) in the most affected areas. The beneficiaries would be selected based on the lists prepared by the Nepal partners.

The aid to be distributed includes 8,000 tarpaulins, 4,000 mosquito nets, and 4,000 hygiene kits. The beneficiaries will be educated on how to use these supplies to promote hygiene and prevent the outbreak of communicable diseases, especially in crowded shelter locations.

During the past two weeks, Nepal has witnessed heavy and continuous rains in various parts of the country, causing landslides, damage to infrastructure (local markets, roads, and bridges), disruption of communication and aid delivery, power outages, and destruction of livestock and agricultural resources.

This emergency comes at a time when Nepal is still struggling to recover from the 2014 floods and 2015 earthquake, which much reconstruction and recovery work remaining to be done.

As per reports, 27 districts are affected by the recent floods, 19 of which are severely impacted. Tera, located in the south of Nepal, is the most affected region. The death toll has reached 141 people, in addition to 24 missing, 117 injured, 158,575 displaced people, 64,997 totally destroyed houses, and 120,129 partially destroyed houses.

Around 19,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) have shelter in 95 public locations, including schools, in six of the most affected areas. Many more are reported to be camping in informal shelters in other districts.

The number of affected households and, hence, IDPs is expected to increase significantly as the rain continues to fall and roads are cleared, enabling assessment to be performed. IDPs are in need of essential assistance including emergency shelter, nonfood items, water, sanitation, and hygiene.

About Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS)

Established in 1978, Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS) is a humanitarian volunteering organization that aims to assist and empower vulnerable individuals and communities without partiality or discrimination.

QRCS is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which consists of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and 190 National Societies. QRCS is also a member of several GCC, Arab, and Islamic organizations, such as the Islamic Committee of International Crescent and the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization (ARCO). In this legally recognized capacity, QRCS has access to disaster and conflict zones, thus serving as an auxiliary to the State of Qatar in its humanitarian efforts — a role that distinguishes it from other local charities and NGOs.

QRCS operates both locally and internationally and has ongoing international relief and development projects in a number of countries throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. QRCS's humanitarian actions include providing support in disaster preparedness, disaster response, risk reduction, and disaster recovery. To mitigate the impact of disasters and improve the livelihoods of affected populations, QRCS provides medical services, healthcare, and social development to local communities. It is also active at the humanitarian advocacy front. With the help of a vast network of trained, committed staff and volunteers, QRCS aspires to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity.

QRCS works under the umbrella of the seven international humanitarian principles: Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

For more information, please contact Fareed Adnan, Head of Media Affairs, Communication Department, Tel.: +974 5583 7338, email: fareed@qrcs.org.qa

Situation analysis:

This map presents water bodies mapped using SAR Image of three different dates: pre-, during-, and post-event phases. The statistics of area of water bodies indicate receding flooding situation. This fact is also visually discernible. The area of the water bodies is clearly highest on 11 August during the flooding.

The flooding is receding by days but water areas are areas of concern from the point of disease outbreak.