Koshi River Floods in Sunsari and Saptari OCHA Situation Report No.4

Kathmandu, 22 August 2008

This situation report is based on information received from the OCHA Office in Biratnagar, UN Agencies and humanitarian partner organisations

I. Situation in Sunsari and Saptari Districts, Eastern 5) There is as of yet no official reports about human casualties or missing persons. Media reports indicate that 4 to 6 people may have been killed. Reports of 27 bodies found in 1) Flooding: The flood waters of the Koshi River1 which India could not yet be confirmed. broke through its eastern embankment on 18 August still cover two VDCs in Sunsari district, (Shree)Haripur and 6) As of 22 August there were roughly 13,600 people in Shripurjavdi, almost entirely. The water stands several shelters in Inaruwa, the District HQ of Sunsari, and other meters deep at some areas. The flood also partially covers VDCs of Sunsari as well as in shelters in . Laukihi (flooding occurred in the Western part of the VDC) and Paschhim Kushaha (wards 3, 4, 8 and 9). Other 7) Around 1o-15,000 displaced people from Paschhim VDCs in the area (Bhokraha, Madhuwan, Narshigha, Kushaha, Haripur and Shripurjavdi in the western part of Bashntapur and Dhuskighat) have experienced some Sunsari (i.e. those cut off from Inaruwa due to the limited flooding and are hosting displaced people. The interruption of the highway) have been most difficult to flooding also extends beyond the Indian border and has rescue and to reach by Sunsari authorities and relief caused significant damages and human suffering there. agencies based in Inaruwa. They can only be accessed by Saptari District has not been flooded as such, but has seen air or by road over the Koshi barrage from Saptari. an influx of displaced people from Sunsari district. 8) Among those displaced and sheltering on higher ground 2) The East West highway remains impassable, as it has been are also people who fled from the Indian VDCs Birpur, broken at three points by the river waters, and may take Bhimnagar and Ranigunj. There are no such elevated considerable time to repair. The Koshi and Mechi Zones locations as the Koshi barrage and dams in nearby VDCs are thus disconnected from Nepal‘s road network. The across the Indian border. Many are also assumed to have alternative route through Bathanaha-Birpur-Bahantabari moved on across the Koshi barrage to Saptari district. in Bihar, India, has also reportedly become impassable thus lengthening the land route detour considerably. The 9) Agencies should assume that this population will remain NTC phone service is restored as of 21 August, but has displaced for at least 2-4 weeks as the repair of the been intermittent and difficulties should be anticipated for embankment remains impossible with current water levels. some days. The mero mobile network is working, while the Without this repair, flooded areas will remain CDMA service is not. uninhabitable. With only little more than half way through the monsoon season, a significant improvement of the situation is not likely to be reached for several months. 3) Displacement: The Government (MoHA) estimates that at least 70,000 people are affected by the flooding in the area, and 7,000 families are displaced. The Nepal Red II. Initial response Cross Society (NRCS) reports a number of 54,000 affected persons as of 22 August. Most of the displaced are poor 10) Ongoing and completed assessments: OXFAM, farmers or land labourers, many of them Maithili Caritas, and DEPROSC Nepal have completed a rapid speakers. assessment using the IASC Initial Rapid Assessment (IRA) tool. WFP has assessed initial food needs and damages to food crops on 20 August. The NRCS carried out a Damage 4) The rescue operation using more than 20 boats and also elephants continues, mainly through the DDRC as well as and Need Assessment (DANA). A Rapid Health Koshi Victim Society (KVS) in Saptari. Assessment by WHO, UNFPA and MoHP commenced on 21 August. OCHA carried out an initial assessment of the situation in Saptari and the areas accessible from there. Estimated population (Sunsari District Health Profile)

Total Children under 5 11) A protection, child protection and education assessment Bashntapur 5,516 726 team comprising of UNICEF, DCWB/WDO, WVI, NRC, Bhokraha 19,430 2,556 Save Alliance, TPO, OHCHR, and the Education Cluster Dhuskighat 11,238 1,478 was deployed on 22 August. Haripur 9,742 1,281 Laukihi 5,414 712 12) UN DSS, Plan International, World Vision and UNICEF Madhuwan 8,691 1,143 carried out an IRA in Narshigha, Bashntapur VDCs on 22 Narshigha 20,371 2,679 August. ICRC will have an IRA in Bhokraha and Paschhim Kushaha 11,677 1,536 Madhuwan with a staff member from Save the Children. Shripurjavdi 15,176 1,996 Assessments are still required in accessible areas of Affected VDCs 107,255 14,107 Laukihi, Paschhim Kushaha and Dhuskighat VDCs. And Sunsari DISTRICT 733,919 96,535 follow-up assessments may be required in Bhokraha, Madhuwan, Narshigha and Bashntapur.

1 The Koshi River, also called , as it is a system of at least 7 channels, 13) Concern will commence an assessment in Saptari District is known for its flooding throughout history. For background and maps see on 23 August. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koshi_River

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distribution by 25 August. However, there is a need for 14) The Government plans to conduct a detailed damage medium term food assistance. Most of the displaced have assessment (comprising line ministries and technical been deprived of their livelihoods and depend on food aid. experts), and a report should be ready within the next two weeks. 25) Some people have reportedly continued to fish in the flood waters, which commonly leads to widespread diarrhoea. 15) Actors on the ground: The Government continues to take the lead in coordinating the relief efforts. The District Shelter Name Location Current Pop. Disaster Relief Committee (DDRC) of Sunsari has met on (NRCS, 22 18 August. The Chief District Officer (CDO) and Local Nr Aug) Sunsari Multiple Campus Inaruwa-6 788 Development Officer (LDO), as the senior Government 1 officials in the District, meet with political parties, the Bhagwati Sec. School Inaruwa-1 1,800 NRCS, and some line agencies on a daily basis. The NRCS 2 has mobilized its local chapters and volunteers in Sunsari Gaynodaya Sec. School Inaruwa-6 230 and Saptari. NRCS has handed over the management of 3 the principal relief material warehouse in Inaruwa to the Devkota Prim. School Inaruwa-5 250 4 LDO on the afternoon of 21 August. Sharada Higher Sec. Balaha 237 5 School 16) In Saptari, a DDRC meeting was held on 21 August and a Rajaji Ramji sec. school Inaruwa-8 854 6 5- member mixed assessment team was formed. An Balmandir Inaruwa-7 444 assessment report was due later on 22 August and both 7 Janta Sec. school Madhesa 350 food and NFI will be systematically distributed from 23 8 August onward at the sites where flood victims are located Va. Si. Higher Sec. Jhumka 0 along the 8km stretch of road. 9 School, Chandra kamal sec. Dumraha 0 10 School 17) UNICEF, LWF, ActionAID, British Nepal Medical Trust, Prithivi Narayan School Bhokraha 0 UMN, Plan International, Save the Children, World Vision, 11 Saraswati Sec. School Babiya-1 1,532 Care Nepal, Caritas, Nepal Christian Relief Society, IRC, 12 Oxfam, RRN, Merlin, WHO, WFP, UNFPA and UNHCR Jamiya Islamiya Bhokraha 2,437 13 have all sent staff to Sunsari since 19 August. OCHA Mithila Boarding School Laukihi 650 maintains a presence in Inaruwa in an effort to coordinate. 14 15 Narayani Pump Chhed NGOs, UN agencies and the NRCS meet at 3pm every day, 691 with participation of a government representative. Health 16 Pashimkushara Dam 1,000 coordination meetings have been held on 21 and 22 August 17 Shishuketan School Babiya 201 at the DHO in Inaruwa. 18 Khairatole Mosque Bhokraha-1 235 19 Rani Ni Mavi Laukihi-2 650 18) In Saptari, aside from the DDRC/CDO, LDO and other 20 Koshi Mavi Paschim Kusaha-6 100 concerned members of the government, WFP, UNICEF, 21 Amar Shanti Prim. Inaruwa 238 UNFPA, as well as Care Nepal, Oxfam, DEPROSC, RRN School and KVS are present and involved in the relief effort. 22 Shree Prim. School 350 Acraha 19) Please see the attached matrix for distributed, available 23 Madrasa Inaruwa-7 n.a. and potential resources. 24 Shiva Gunj Prim School. Bohkara n.a. 25 Dhanjit Prim. School Madhuwan-9 n.a. 20) Emergency Shelter and NFIs: 20 temporary emergency 26 (Saptari) n.a. shelters have been established in schools as well as other 27 Rastriya Primary School Hanumannagar 150 locations in Sunsari and Saptari districts. Please see table 1 (Saptari) with details on the shelters. The fluctuation of people in 28 Kankalini School Bhardaha (Saptari) 300 and out of the shelters (many leave during the day to look 29 B.P.Ma.School Bhardaha (Saptari) 150 after their property) has made it very difficult to establish Total 13,637 precise numbers of displaced/affected persons. NRCS is Table 1 conducting a head count in the shelters in Inaruwa. NFIs are being distributed by the various agencies. The 26) Water and Sanitation (WASH): WVI is installing hand conditions in many shelters are not sustainable for a pumps for safe drinking water at the temporary shelters protracted period. and is conducting arsenic testing. It is also installing 24 temporary toilets at the shelters. UNICEF is to begin 21) Most of the houses of the displaced were mud huts or training on the use of aquatab on 21 August and will made of non-permanent materials, and have either been provide aquatab for 600 families. By 21 August, only an completely destroyed or seriously damaged. estimated 20 % of the camp population in Inaruwa had access to safe water. Only three toilets were available for 22) The LDO of Sunsari has stated that the authorities are 2,500 people in Bhagawati Secondary School (biggest going to deploy 12 APF in each camp and will be backed up shelter) out of which 50 % are female and 10 % children. by Nepal Police to ensure security. WVI is installing emergency toilets.

23) Food: In the shelters in Sunsari, immediate food needs are 27) Health: Health teams, including several provided by NGOs, being met with donations of ready to eat foods from the have been assigned to each shelter camp. These teams will Government, INGOs, NGOs, UN and local civic provide primary care and refer as necessary to the district organizations. hospital. The team consists of a health assistant and an auxiliary health worker. In addition, the DHO has created 24) WFP is making resources available for feeding up to a rapid response team moving with a vehicle. The DHO 30,000 people for two weeks, and is expected to start

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assures that he has sufficient supplies and drugs for the 34) Since most of the temporary shelters are schools, a immediate case load. UNICEF has provided a first aid kit medium term shelter alternative has to be identified. The for each shelter. Support from the Ministry of Health MOHA is seeking 1,000 medium sized tents and has (EDCD) and WHO has also been provided. A health instructed the CDOs to look for open, safe available spaces. coordination meeting was held in Inaruwa on 21 August. 35) Most of the camps are now managed by local clubs and 28) ADRA and AMDA have sent a medical team to the affected political groups. The Jame Islamiya, one of the largest area with medicines. Merlin is ready to support up to USD shelters, is managed by the people themselves through a 10,000 in kind immediately upon request. NFHP is ready committee and is one of the best managed committees so to support the local level transportation for relief transfer far. The protection assessment will look into the issue of (from Bhadrapur to the area as IOM can transport from management of shelters. KTM to Bhadrapur). NFHP has a rapid response team in 36) Food: According to an initial WFP rapid assessment, crops the eastern region to support activities there. MDM is on the following cultivated land has been destroyed: ready to mobilize the staff nurses (currently in training in 1. Haripur - 2,064 hectares Biratnagar). ACF has an emergency fund and is ready to 2. Shripurjavdi - 1,892 hectares provide support in nutrition aspect and water supply and 3. Paschhim Kushaha - 860 hectares sanitation based on the assessment. MDM will coordinate 4. Laukihi - 476 hectares of rice currently flooded with UNFPA for RH kits. WVI will provide for a nutrition could survive if flood water recedes program for 1,000 children in the temporary shelters.

37) Special food items for children/infants and lactating and 29) Logistics: IOM has informed that it operates regular pregnant women are in need. flights to Bhadrapur (Jhapa District) and that if agencies

are interested, IOM can provide support with flying out 38) Longer term food support is needed œ and the Government relief services to Bhadrapur (from there it will have to be is requesting WFP to assist with food support for an individual agency arrangements to be taken to the flood additional 2.5 months (17,000 quintals). affected areas). For more details, pls. contact Chris at IOM

at 98511 04423. These flights normally land in Bhadrapur. 39) Health: Reports of diarrhoea, pneumonia and viral fever However, it may be possible to divert a flight to Biratnagar have been documented, although no signs of under certain circumstances. communicable diseases have been reported as of yet.

Outside the shelters health and sanitation facilities are not 30) Even though relief stocks are in place, there are available. constraints in distribution. So identification of 'real'

victims is a priority for the authorities. A Distribution 40) The following health related needs have been established: Mechanism will therefore be set up, which will include the - Drug supply will last only for one week establishment of an information desk at the Incident - Mosquito nets are required Command Post for information collection and its - Latrine cleaning materials are required broadcast, a one-door access mechanism for relief material - Assistance to lactating mothers distribution, the establishment of a registration - Reproductive health services needed (not only mechanism with the details and name list of displaced supplies, but also medical personnel) families who are located in temporary shelters and the - Public information campaign on hygiene provision of official ration-cards to the families of flood promotion and disease prevention required victims as per the names that are registered. In some - Fuel for DHO vehicle locations, this process has already started. - DHO complains that health actors are not coordinating with his office, and different actors III. Overall needs are using different treatment protocols.

41) Protection/child protection: Initial assessments pointed to 31) The Government has appealed to all people, organizations a large number of very small children and lactating and international community to generously extend mothers as being in particular need of protection. Special financial and material help for carrying out the relief and protection support is thus required for the elderly, women, rehabilitation operation. Since urgent relief requirements adolescent girls and children. are being met according to the Government, it wants the international donor community to focus on rehabilitation 42) Water and Sanitation (WASH): Water and sanitation at and reconstruction needs. The Government envisages the the shelters continues to be a significant need. Water humanitarian operation to last 3-4 months. supply and hygiene is reported to be a major problem in displaced locations accessed through Saptari. UNICEF has 32) In the locations accessible from Saptari, the required been informed and is planning to respond. There was amount of food, NFIs and emergency items has not been absence of hygiene accessories like soap, towel, sanitary distributed so far; hence, there is urgency in distributing napkin and water purifying agents and buckets. Water and such items and providing regular medial services to those sanitation was generally found to be more problematic flood victims who have been in the open since 19 August. again in the western side (access from Saptari).

33) Shelter: Emergency shelter continues to be one of the 43) There needs to be appropriate disposal of corpses of dead greatest needs at present. Emergency shelter may be animals floating in the flood waters. required for 3œ4 months. The situation in the existing shelters is being described as unsustainable. Around 50- 44) Education: Schools are being used as shelters in both 60 people are living in one room. People are sleeping on Sunsari and Saptari districts and classes are currently benches and the open floor. Mosquito bites are a frequent interrupted. Provisions for a continuation of school classes problem. both for the displaced population and for the students normally using the premises now used as shelters need to

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be made. Moreover, none of the displaced children were http://www.mfd.gov.np/. able to save their educational materials including books. 51) All available assessments, reports, photos and tools 45) Recovery: Agencies and government have started to (including the IRA toolkit) can be accessed at the FLOODS consider return and reconstruction support. section on the Nepal Information Platform http://www.un.org.np/floods/index.php

52) OCHA is in the process of compiling assessments on IV. Coordination Sunsari Floods based on the IASC Initial Rapid Assessment

(IRA) tool so as to get an overall picture of the impact of 46) OCHA has opened a small static presence in the Sunsari the floods and humanitarian needs. WFP will be CDO‘s residence in Inaruwa on 21 August. Information consolidating all the forms and the compiled data will be and updates will be available from staff there. shared. OCHA kindly requests to send a copy of completed

IRA questionnaires to the following focal points in 47) AIN will have an information desk at the CDO‘s residence Biratnagar and Kathmandu offices: in Inaruwa from 22 August.

Biratnagar Office: 48) It is necessary for sector leads to call sector coordination Tel: 021-537357, Fax: 021-538351 meetings. Nepal cluster leads should support DDRC Leith Baker: 9804069034, [email protected] identified sector leads. Bitu Shreevastav: 9806815955, [email protected]

Yadav KC: 9803649141, [email protected] 49) The MOHA is planning to call for a wider coordination

meeting on Monday, 25 August in Kathmandu. Time and Kathmandu Office: precise location are to be announced. Tel: 5548553, Fax: 5548597

Sandeep Bashyal, 9851001652, [email protected] 50) Weather forecasts for Nepal are posted on the website of Minu Limbu, 9851001658, [email protected] the Government‘s Meteorological Service at

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

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] ° Aditee Maskey, email: [email protected] ° Marcus Brand, email: [email protected]

OCHA Office in Biratnagar Leith Baker, Humanitarian Affairs Officer Tel. (+977) 98043 73618, SATphone: 8821643338874, email: [email protected] ° Yadav K.C. (+977) 98036 49141, email: [email protected] ° Bitu Babu Shreevastav (+977) (0)21/537357, email: [email protected]

Sunsari floods / OCHA Situation Report No.4 / 22 August 2008 4

Sunsari floods / OCHA Situation Report No.4 / 22 August 2008