- Situation
Massive floods and landslides triggered by incessant and torrential rains have killed 143 people, injured 43 and 30 have gone missing since 13 August 2017, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of Nepal. Approximately 6 million people have been affected by the catastrophe. As per the initial findings till 15th of August, the number of displaced households is over 100,000 and is expected to rise when a complete assessment is carried out. Rescue is going on and Nepal Army alone has rescued 8,000 individuals and put them in safer places. Various NGOs and voluntary groups have started responding the situation and help victims to meet their basic needs with various relief works.
Land in the southern plains are heavily populated and is known as the ‘grain basket’ of the country. Almost all of the standing crops and farm lands have been affected by the floods. Power outage, disruption in communication were observed right after the flood and it still continues in many places. Air transport has been badly affected and roads in various parts have been damaged and few bridges have collapsed. It has obstructed rescue and relief supplies. A large number of cattle, poultry and other domesticated animals are feared dead. The loss of livestock is a loss to livelihood.
Since vast tracts of lands are still submerged, feeder roads have also been damaged and have become inaccessible. The inundation is likely to result in epidemics as a large number of domestic animals and poultry have died. The flood has created such a heart-rending situation that a dead child was left floating on the flood by his uncle in the eastern Tarai of Nepal as he could not find any ground to bury the dead body. This speaks volume on the impacts of the devastating floods.
- Needs Assessment
In order to respond to this emergency, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Nepal along with ACT Alliance Nepal Forum carried out Joint Rapid Needs Assessment (JRNA) in the affected districts from August 13 to 15, 2017. The rapid assessment took the stock of the general scenario of flood-affected areas. The local implementing partners of ACT members were mobilized to conduct rapid needs assessment. The assessment was conducted in 18 districts namely Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Siraha, Dhanusha, Rautahat, Bara, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Dang, Banke, Bardiya Kailali and Kanchanpur. The areas covered Shelter, WASH, Protection, Livelihood, and Food Security.
- Relief Distribution
LWF Nepal is one of the early responders to this calamity. It provided immediate relief to the affected people in Jhapa, Morang and Kailali. As of August 22, 2017, LWF Nepal 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 package that included food, kitchen utensil set, blanket and urgent cloth items. LWF Nepal and its implementing partner in coordination with District Disaster Relief Committee (DDRC) and local government agencies provided the relief materials.
- Media Coverage
LWF Nepal’s early relief distribution to the most affected people in Jhapa, Morang and Kailali districts was covered by the mainstream national media including the English dailies and online news agencies. Some of the news covered by the media is given below.
KATHMANDU: The Lutheran World Federation Nepal has provided relief to 568 flood-affected families of Gauriganj rural municipality in Jhapa district, and Janaki Rural Municipality, Bhajani and Joshipur municipalities in Kailali district. The relief materials included rice, pulses, cooking oil, iodised salt, clothes, bucket, blanket and utensils. Prabin Manandhar, country director of LWF Nepal and Convener of ACT Alliance Nepal Forum, said the relief materials were distributed among the most-affected families in coordination with the district disaster relief committees and the local government agencies. - HNS.
Kathmandu, 20 August – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Nepal, a humanitarian international NGO and a member of ACT Alliance, has provided relief to 568 flood-affected families of Gauriganj Rural Municipality (RM), and Jhapa RM in Jhapa district in eastern part and Janaki RM, and Bhajani and Joshipur municipalities in Kailali district in the far western part of Nepal.
LWF Nepal distributed rice, pulse, cooking oil, iodized salt, unstitched clothes, sarees, buckets, blankets and kitchen utensils with 15 items to 90 families of Baluwatar in Jhapa RM. It distributed blankets, cooking pots with 5 items, glasses, bowls, and plates to 57 families of Gaurigunj RM and rice, pulse, iodized salt, cooking oil, beaten rice, instant noodles, and blanket to 111 families of Kadamgachhi of Gauriganj RM from 15 to 18 August.
Dr Prabin Manandhar, Country Director of LWF Nepal, and Convener of ACT Alliance Nepal Forum, said, “We are one of the first responders to the flood-affected families of eastern and far western parts of Nepal immediately after the floods.”
LWF Nepal provided the relief to the most-affected and vulnerable families in coordination with the District Disaster Relief Committees and the local government agencies after conducting need assessments of the affected people of those rural municipalities and municipalities.
LWF Nepal, a country program of the LWF World Service, has been working with the marginalized and disadvantaged communities of Nepal since 1984 on Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness and Response; Sustainable Livelihood; Community-led Actions for Governance and Justice; and Organizational Effectiveness. Its core commitments are Human Rights; Impartiality; Inclusion and Participation; Accountability; Gender Justice and Climate Justice; and Environmental Sustainability.
Published on 20 August 2017
KATHMANDU, Aug 20: The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Nepal has provided relief to 568 flood-affected families in various rural municipalities in Jhapa and Kailali districts.
According to a press statement issued on Sunday, LWF Nepal distributed rice, pulse, cooking oil, iodized salt, unstitched cloths, saree, bucket, blankets and kitchen utensils with 15 items to 90 families of Baluwatar in Jhapa rural municipality.
It distributed blanket, cooking pot with 5 items, glass, bowl, and plate to 57 families of Gaurigunj rural municipality and rice, pulse, iodized salt, cooking oil, beaten rice, instant noodles and blanket to 111 families of Kadamgachhi of the same municipality in Jhapa district on August 15 to 18.
"We are one of the first responders to the flood-affected families of eastern and far western parts of Nepal immediately after the floods," the release quoted Country Director of LWF Nepal Prabin Manandhar, who is also Convener of ACT Alliance Nepal Forum, as saying.
LWF Nepal provided the relief to the most-affected and vulnerable families in coordination with the District Disaster Relief Committees and the local government agencies after conducting need assessments of the affected people of those rural municipalities and municipalities.
