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HUMANITARIAN UPDATE
Update on monsoon related-incidents
Monsoon related incidents continued during August, reportedly causing the death of 14 people. Incessant monsoon rainfall caused flash floods in Darchula District (Far Western Region) and landslides in Rukum and Dailekh districts (Mid Western Region). On 15 August, a landslide in Bisalla VDC of Dailekh swept away the houses of nine families. The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) provided non-food items (NFI) and tarpaulins to the affected families and an assessment team was deployed to the area. The District Disaster Relief Committee (DDRC) provided immediate cash support. In Rukum, a landslide swept away four houses and thirteen shops at Bairagithanti bazaar rendering seventeen families temporarily displaced. The DDRC provided cash support to the affected families and NRCS supported NFI.
Outbreaks of bird flu (H5N1) have been witnessed in the Kathmandu Valley and Nawalparasi District (Western Region) during August. To control the outbreak, the government deployed rapid response teams to affected areas. Poultry in affected areas have been culled and poultry products disposed. Also, the Government imposed a week-long ban on the import, export and distribution of poultry products during the first week of August to control the outbreak inside the Kathmandu Valley. During the second week of August, Bhaktapur District was declared as a ‘Bird flu Emergency Zone’. Meanwhile, few cases of H5N1 were reported in Kavre District. There is no lab confirmed case of human transmission so far.
Post-July flood situation
In Kailali District, the DDRC with support of the NRCS completed a detailed assessment of the flood affected area. According to the assessment, a total of 5,768 families were affected and the houses of 317 families were completely destroyed by the July floods. A number of families are still in need of food support as well as support in the reconstruction of their houses. Flood victims from Darchula District reportedly formed a struggle committee and are demanding compensation for their lost property from the government. They have been staging demonstrations in the district headquarters and recently met with the Chairperson of the Interim Election Administration advance their demands.