A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
The torrential rain has been affecting Nepal since 14 August 2014 causing massive floods and several landslides in 19 districts throughout the country. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology record shows water level in Koshi, Narayani, Karnali and west Rapti rivers increased above warning level during 14-16 August. In Babai River in Bardiya, where the early warning system (EWS) was built on the existing gauge station, the station has been washed away by flood and no EWS worked which resulted in human deaths in addition to huge property loss.
The water overflowing the banks of these rivers caused inundation in most of village development committees (VDCs) of Siraha, Dang, Surkhet, Banke, Bardiya and Kailali districts. Of the 19 districts affected by the floods, five districts (Jajarkot, Salyan, Rukum, Rolpa and Lalitpur) have also experienced landslides.
According to the Initial Rapid Assessment (IRA) reports received from the affected districts on 20 August 2014, a total of 43,354 families (216, 770 people) have been affected, of which 13,486 families (67,430 people) are displaced. The report indicates that 105 people are confirmed dead; 153 people are still missing; and 53 people have been injured. The numbers have been increasing day by day, and are likely to continue as some of the affected areas are challenging to access.
The floods and landslides have damaged infrastructure such as: roads connecting district headquarters to the affected VDCs; bridges; culverts; local markets; transport vehicles as well as livestock; crops and daily consumables. Highways, linking Bankey to Bardiya, Nepalgunj to Surkhet and Surkhet to neighboring districts, have been blocked due to landslides and floods. Furthermore, floods have swept away five suspension bridges in Surkhet which is causing daily movement for those affected even more challenging. First responders of the government and NRCS in five VDC’s in turn face challenges in gaining access to these areas.
A total of 11,044 houses have been fully destroyed and 11,037 houses partially damaged in the affected districts. The communication network and electricity supply are greatly restricted due to fallen electrical and telecommunication poles. Drinking water supply systems have been disrupted in Surkhet valley while hand pumps have been contaminated in the southern plain area due to water inundation.
Following the disaster, the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) district chapters immediately deployed their trained volunteers to conduct rapid assessments and provide relief services to the affected people. However, their access to the affected areas has been restricted due to the inundation of entire villages and blocked roads. Also, volunteers have been facing problems in identifying and managing the temporary evacuation centers due to low availability of public places and safe places in comparison to the large number of displaced people. Government security personnel (Nepal army, armed police force and Nepal police) and NRCS volunteers have evacuated affected families from highrisk areas to shelters in the schools and public places. Some families are still living in open places.
The rain has gradually decreased from the evening of 16 August in most areas although flood waters may take some days to recede from those VDCs that have been inundated.
This is the second major disaster related to the ongoing monsoon season. In early August, massive landslides from the hillside in Jure, Mankhaa VDC of Sindhupalchowk district in Nepal killed 33 people with 123 people missing and declared dead by the government of Nepal. The landslide created a 2.5 Km. long artificial lake that posed a severe risk for flash floods for a number of days until the water slowly receded. An Information bulletin was issued on 3 August reporting on the situation and humanitarian actions for both Nepal and India. A subsequent Information bulletin was issued on 17 August reporting on additional floods and landslides in Nepal.