This report was issued by UN OCHA Nepal. It covers the period from October 9 - 12 2009.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Total number of reported deaths due to flooding and landslides in Mid and Far West regions has reached 58, with 9 people missing and 29 injured;
- Assessments are ongoing, however, estimates suggest approximately 2,600 families displaced in the MWR/FWR; and over 18,000 families affected;
- The damages suffered include: loss and/or damage to personal property, food stores, livestock, paddy fields, houses, drinking water sources, and school supplies;
- Flood related health problems are beginning to emerge, and two children have died (in Achham and Banke) due to post-flood illnesses;
- Rescue efforts and response ahs been hampered in the Hills due to road and infrastructural damage;
- DDRCs in most districts have mobilized clusters to gather information about the scope and impact;
- DDRCs have the capacity to respond to the immediate needs in most districts, however, additional food assistance may be required in the next few weeks; and
- Due to Tihar holiday, the capacity of some relief organizations will be reduced next week.
I. Situation Overview
Many of the people displaced by the floods and the landslides have started returning home, and in Banke, Bardiya, and Kanchanpur, for example, most of the families have already gone back. However, the humanitarian impact is expected to be felt for a long time. Thousands of people have lost all their belongings and food stores, including crop seeds for the next planting season. Many paddy fields are still submerged in water, and large areas of harvested crops were washed away. In Kailali, Kanchanpur, Banke and Bardiya, there is an estimated 15-40 percent loss in paddy crops, and many livestock were also lost. Infrastructure such as bridges and roads has been partially or completely destroyed.
Emergency food is a major need of flood and landslide affected families over the coming three months. In addition, as many water taps are contaminated, access to clean drinking water has become problematic in certain affected areas. Road repair is also needed, especially in hilly/mountainous and rural areas. In addition, the impact of these floods is further exacerbated by the fact that this is the third flood for 2009 (the other two being in August and September), and that some of the needs created by the big floods/landslides in September 2008 still haven't been addressed. Many families are therefore vulnerable due to the compounded effects of the floods/landslides. In mountain districts such as Accham, Bhajang and Bajura, the rains have further depleted food supplies that were already badly affected by this winter's droughts. The Home Minister visited several districts in the region.
