Mid and Far Western Floods and Landslides OCHA Situation Report No. 2

25 September 2008

This situation report is based on information received from UN Agencies and humanitarian partners and government sources based in Kathmandu and the affected districts.

CONTEXT Other affected VDCs include Krishnanagar, Parasan, Dodhara, Rauteli Bichwa, Rampur Bilashpur, and Situation Overview Mahendranagar Municipality. Access to the south-eastern flood affected VDCs is possible from Kailali. Initial On 19 September, heavy rains hit several districts in Mid and assessment reports indicate that hundreds of families from Far Western regions of . The incessant rains caused Shankapur VDC are displaced in Dekhatbhuli VDC. The floods and landslides in Bardiya, Banke, Dang, Dadeldhura, priority needs for relief materials for the have been identified Kailali, Kanchanpur, Doti, Kalikot and Salyan Districts. as food, medicine, tarpaulins, drinking water, NFIs and According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), the blankets greatest impact of the floods and landslides are being felt in Kailali, Bardiya and Kanchanpur districts, with the number Bardiya District: According to information from MOHA, 15 of displaced in need of assistance rising to 180,000. MOHA VDCs are severely affected. These include, Gulariya information also indicates that the greatest impact of the Municipality, Sanoshree, Tarataal, Dhodhari, Suryapatuwa, floods has been on the extremely poor and previously Shivapur, Thakurdwara, Neuwalpur, Khairichndrapur, vulnerable populations in these districts. Reports indicate Rajanpur, Bhimapur, Daulatpur, Nayagaum, Gola and that over 30 people have died since the recent Patabhar. MOHA estimates that 1245 families are affected, floods/landslides started. with over 175 families displaced. According to International Rescue Committee (IRC), up to 849 of the affected The government mobilized the army, Armed Police Force households are in the Kamaiya camp in Rajapur. According and the regular police to repair the over 100 metres of road to initial rapid assessment conducted by NRCS and IRC along the East-West Highway at Pahalmanpur, Kailali is teams, initial needs include food, NFIs and hygiene kits. IRC, completely washed away. It is estimated that it will take at NRCS and the local chamber of commerce and industry least 2 more days to repair this stretch of the road, which is responded through provision of food and non-food items. partially passable using light vehicles at the moment. Electricity and telephones are still cut off in some VDCs, Doti: According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), 5 which hampered information collection from the affected people died and 3 were seriously injured due to the floods areas. Air transport from and to the most affected areas has and landslide. Transport, electricity and communications since resumed. The water levels have started receding in a systems between Doti district headquarters and Kailali are number of the affected districts and some displaced persons disrupted. have started going to visit their damaged homes. However, reports from the Inter agency assessment teams indicate that Dadeldhura: According to information availed by MOHA, an the water levels in most VDCs, mainly in the border areas, estimated 681 families are affected and in need of immediate remain high and houses are uninhabitable. Landslides along support. CARE Nepal, NRCS and the National Chamber of the - Dadeldhura highway are still obstructing Commerce and industries are have raised 113, 000 NPR to vehicle movement from and to Dadeldhura. support response in Dadeldhura. Assessments to determine the extent of the damage as well as the needs are ongoing. Kailali: According to the government and Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) as wells inter-agency assessments done in NEEDS AND RESPONSE the last three days, the floods and landslides have caused 13 deaths, 17 people reported missing and an estimated 20,100 Central level- Kathmandu families (135,000) displaced in the 13 out of the 19 VDCs so far assessed. The majority of VDCs in this District were affected to some degree by the flood waters or landslides in On 21 September, the government convened the Central the hilly areas. The worst affected VDCs include Disaster Relief Committee (CDRC), under the chairmanship Dhansinghpur, Narayanpur, , , Lalbojih, of the Minister for Home Affairs, in Kathmandu. The and in the south-east corner of the Meeting decided to mobilize all existing government District. Bhajani and Lalbojih VDCs are inundated with flood resources including security forces, helicopters and relief water. The majority of the displaced people are located in settlement sites in Khalid and Bhajani. Men reportedly equipments to rescue people in the affected districts and take return to the houses during evening to protect the property, them to safer places where temporary shelter, food and basic which raises protection issues for the families remaining in health services could be provided. On 22 September, the the settlement sites. The majority of Sukumbasi (landless) CDRC released 15.5 million NPR to support the relief efforts and former Kamaiya settlements are severely affected by the in the affected districts. flood waters in .

Kanchanpur: According to NRCS updated data, 5,133 The government also dispatched two Nepal Army helicopters families (30,366 people) are affected by the floods. 13 people to Kailali and Kanchanpur districts to support local response. are confirmed dead, mainly from Dhodohara VDC. The worst A team of Constituent Assembly members led by the Minister flood affected VDCs include Dekhatbhuli and Shankanpur. for Labour and Transport Management and health teams left

OCHA Western Nepal Floods/Landslides Situation Report, Issue No. 2/25 September 2008 1

Kathmandu for Kailali and other affected districts to assess WASH: Thirty trained Female Community Health the situation. Volunteers (FCHVs) were mobilized with aquaguard and piyush tablets to the flood affected communities. These

FCHV were trained on water and hygiene practices prior to Following a request by the Home Ministry to OCHA to the floods as part of the disaster preparedness activities in support the government coordination efforts at the District the District. There are no reports of waterborne diseases. and regional levels through participation in the DDRC Two DWSS staff were mobilized with water purification meetings, OCHA set up Satellite office in Dhangadi on 22 supplies for Tikapur VDC. There is a need for a detailed September and sent 2 additional staff from Kathmandu to discussion on sanitation management, including toilets in the shelters (taking into consideration hygiene and support DDRC coordination efforts. protection issues). For the repair and maintenance of hand pumps, Mercy Crops submitted a plan with a budget to its On 24 September, MOHA requested WFP to support with Head Office. DWSS provided training to FCHVs in Pandon food assistance for two weeks for 50,000 families in Kailali, and VDCs in the hilly area of Kailali District. Kanchanpur and Bardiya districts. Water purification tablets were distributed to Dhansinghpur, Narayanpur, Patharaiya and Tikapur VDCS. Distribution methods for the water purification tablets were discussed. It On 25 September, the IASC country team convened and was noted that more water purification tablets are needed. agreed among other things to request MOHA to provide There is a need to manage of animal carcases as it poses a available data, have OCHA teams in the three most affected high risk to public health. districts to support coordination at DDRCs, coordinate on going inter-agency assessments and requested the cluster Heath: The debris and the dead cattle is a big threat to public health and hygiene in the flood affected VDCs, leads to meet and come up with clear needs/gaps based on particularly in Phulbari and VDCs. Encephalitis cases the ongoing assessments. reported in Phulbari VDC, two Encephalitis patients are admitted at Seti Zonal Hospital. There are reports of increased numbers of the mosquitoes (new breed) in the flood affected VDCs, mosquito nets and mosquito control methods are needed in the flood-affected VDCs for Malaria and Encephalitis prevention. Health Clinic: On 24 September, the UNFPA team visited Bhajani to assess reports from the DPHO of a number of cases of pregnant women. Mobile clinic was present at the location and UNFPA provide medicines. UNFPA also visited Khalid where there were a number people living in the forest location and identified the need for a mobile health clinic. Therefore, UNFPA will visit the area on 25 September with a mobile health clinic. On 25 September, a DHO and the District AIDS Coordination Committee staff visited Bajhani and found a number of diarrhoea and fever cases

Shelter/NFI: Cluster formed and held its first meeting on 25 September. LWF approved a plan for relief materials support to 2,885 flood affected people for a period of 15 days. IFRC approved and sent out 800 NFI kits for affected Homes surrounded by floods in Kailali: Source BASE Nepal communities through the NRCS

Kailali /Kanchanpur Response: Protection: OHCHR provided checklist to guide assessment teams for Cluster coordination: The DDRC Kailali endorsed the protection related issues in settlements, which will support cluster approach for the emergency response coordination information for use of the Protection Cluster. The Women’s approach. The clusters include Health and Nutrition, WASH, Development Officer (WDO) will participate in the Inter- Protection and Education. The clusters are lead by the Agency Rapid Assessment Teams in the flood-affected relevant government line agency and coordination meetings communities to assess the impact of the floods on the are held regularly with the support of OCHA with the objective of mapping capacity, maximising use of resources communities. On 22 September, the National Human Rights for the response and addressing gaps and technical issues. Commission (NHRC) visited Pahalmanpur camps and Summaries of meeting are shared and the 3w (‘who, what, reported back the following to the Protection Cluster: where’) tool is being developed. Women condition is bad and they are in trouble staying in large crowds, there is a need to encourage the establishment Food: According to NRCS assessment, ready to eat food is of secure bathing environments and toilet management in needed for 10,000 families for a minimum period of one the temporary settlements, high fear of looting of property, week. DFID CSP provided NPR 500,000 to NRCS Kailali for therefore there is a need for shelters to have security RTE food items. On 24 September, the Food Cluster Kailali monitoring, Pregnant women should be identified and kept meeting agreed to submit to the District Administration on a first priority basis for support. Delivery and new born Office (DAO) for relief material to be procured through the cases should be identified and provided blankets and food. Government network to support the flood-affected communities. FIDA approved a plan for the provision of food Education: Many schools in the flood affected areas are to 500 families in Dhansinghpur VDC-9 and Nepal A.G. closed, either due to building, furniture or facility damage, or Church agreed to provide food to 300 families in Ratanpur due to the buildings sheltering displaced flood affected and Pabera affected populations. communities. The DEO requested support of the

OCHA Western Nepal Floods/Landslides Situation Report, Issue No. 2/25 September 2008 2 organisations to rehabilitate the damaged schools and re- (DDC) Office in Kanchanpur and Kailali. All flood-related supply education materials and facilities. The Education information products are available at this desk Cluster committed to mapping available resources and distribution of supplies to the affected communities Rapid Assessments

The Initial Rapid Assessments are ongoing in both districts and consist of minimum four team members who assess the COORDINATION worst flood-affected VDCs in the Districts. The teams received debrief on the IRA tool and appointed a team leader

for the reporting. After the assessments, the teams would DDRC: The District Disaster Relief Committee (DDRC) meet to go through their findings and the focal point would meets daily in Kailali and Kanchanpur. In Kanchanpur On report back a summary of the assessment and provide the 24 September, the DDRC meeting, facilitated by the Minister IRA form for data analysis and summary. The IRA forms are of Health, determined the following: also circulated to the clusters for further technical analysis.

These reports are frequently being analysed, updated and Carcases: Agreed on the need for the disposal of animal shared in coordination meetings. carcases from the flood affected areas that are a threat to the public health, in particular the carcases by water sources.

Lack of relief materials: A discussion on the relief distribution indicated that it is slow. NRCS reported that it Cluster lead contacts: has exhausted its stock as of 25 September and is unable to Food: WFP, Kimberly Deni, [email protected] mobilise stock locally. Therefore, there is a need for central WASH: UNICEF, Larry Robertson, [email protected] level assistance. Health: WHO, Damodar Adhikari, Priority needs: The main issues for Kanchanpur are water [email protected] and sanitation, medicine and disease prevention. There are no reports of epidemic outbreaks. DPHO reported it has Nutrition: UNICEF, Monique Beun, [email protected] sufficient medicine stock to cover the population for at least 7 Protection: OHCHR, Annette Lyth, [email protected] days, however, if there is an epidemic outbreak, central level Child Protection: UNICEF, Radha Gurung, support will be required. [email protected] Shelter: NRCS will receive 500 shelter kits form the shelter Education: UNICEF, Melinda Smith, [email protected] level as it has no stock. and Save the Children, Gopini Pandey, Information: Databases and information management remain a pending requirement. Local level committees were [email protected] formed under the leadership of VDC Secretaries. Committee Emergency Shelter: Gregg McDonald, members include local police, local health office, local [email protected] agriculture office and political parties representatives. Camp Coordination and Management: Christopher Hoffman, Rehabilitation: The DDRC agreed to form a special [email protected] committee for infrastructure damage assessments, as well as a committee for the rehabilitation of the displaced populations. UPCOMING MEETINGS Coordination: The DDRC determined that the LDO will take lead in coordination with support from UN OCHA - Central Disaster Relief Committee (CDRC), Kathmandu, 10.30 a.m. on 26 September Similar Coordination meeting are being conducted in - DDRC Meeting at 0800hrs daily in Kailali and Kailali District: Kanchanpur at CDO Office. Bardiya District Relief items Procurement Committee formed in Kailali Meetings to start on 26 September. On 24 September, the CDO and the delegation of Political - Flood Coordination Meeting Kailali at 1700hrs daily Parties in Kailali reached an agreement to form a committee at LDO Office to procure relief materials to the flood affected people in the - Protection Cluster Kailali: Friday, 26 September at District. This step was taken after the latter showed strong 1000hrs reservation regarding the government decision to directly - NFI Cluster Kailali: Friday, 26 September at give the allocated relief fund of Nepal Rupees 5,000,000 to 1600hrs the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS). There are five members - WASH Cluster Kailali, Friday, 26 September at in the Procurement Committee one from the District 1400hrs Administration Office, District Development Committee, - IASC meeting, Monday 29 October, 0900 hrs, Chamber of Commerce, Quality Control Division and Kathmandu Measurement Department. This committee will procure the relief materials and then submit it to NRCS. According to a senior DDC officer, NRCS will distribute it in close coordination with the VDC Secretary in the area. Political Parties will oversee the entire process

OCHA Satellite Office: As from 22 September, OCHA established a satellite office in Dhangadhi in the OHCHR Office and will be supporting coordination and disseminating humanitarian information from there.

Information Centre: In support of the relief efforts, the CDO and LDO have facilitated UN OCHA establishing Information Centres at the District Development Committee

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For more detailed and updated information please visit the Nepal Information Platform (http://www.un.org.np) or contact:

OCHA New York Carmen van Heese, Asia Pacific Section, Desk Officer Nepal Tel. (+001) 917 367 2898, email: [email protected] ƒ Pia Hussein, 9173679899, email: [email protected]

OCHA Office in Kathmandu Wendy Cue, Head of Office, OCHA Nepal Tel. (+977) 98510 87520, (01) 55 48 553, email: [email protected] and [email protected] ƒ Aditee Maskey, 98510 72938, email: [email protected] ƒ Vincent Omuga, 9851072870, email: [email protected]

OCHA Satellite Office in Dhangadi Kendra Clegg, Humanitarian Affairs Officer Tel. (+977) 9851001659, SATphone: 8821643338872, email: [email protected] ƒ Prem Awasthi. (+977) 9851020587, email: [email protected] ƒ Amrita Chand (+977) (0)81/526238, 9858021754, email: [email protected]

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