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12 August 2002 By Bijoy Patro in Kabhre district, Nepal Concern is growing for flood and landslide victims in Nepal as heavy monsoon rains extend westwards across the country and an exceptionally high snow pack and glacial melt-rate adds to the already swollen rivers. More than 250,000 people have been badly affected by the floods in 47 of the country's 75 districts, aggravated by four days of the heaviest rainfall in 30 years during late July. The floods and landslides have left 422 people dead with another 173 still reported missing, with hilly regions suffering the highest casualty figures and destruction of homes. About 32,000 people have so far been left homeless in Nepal but with communication to some areas still cut off, a full picture of the situation has yet to emerge. Nepal Red Cross volunteers were among the first to rescue survivors and provide relief aid to people affected by floods and landslides in some of the most inaccessible areas of the Himalayan kingdom. "Red Cross volunteers have walked for five days to assist remote communities. Much of the initial evacuation and assessment for relief was carried out by these volunteers with little equipment or resources," says Bob McKerrow, International Federation head of delegation for south Asia. "Often, the Nepal Red Cross has been the only humanitarian organization able to get relief to people affected by the disaster. A vast network of volunteers made it possible for the Red Cross to work with the community immediately after the disaster." The International Federation has launched an appeal for 2.5 million Swiss francs to help the Nepal Red Cross assist 130,000 people with food, shelter, blankets, clothing and water purification tablets. The provision of water purification tablets is essential due to an increased incidence of waterborne diseases such as typhoid and dysentery in flood-affected areas. The Red Cross volunteers carrying out the grim search for the missing are losing hope of finding people alive. Nevertheless, the search goes on, if nothing, then to provide the dead with a dignified funeral. "The stark face of the disaster was revealed to me when a villager in Makwanpur told me that there was a child lying directly under the debris where I stood," says Eelko Brouwer, International Federation disaster response delegate. "Most may have died under the debris; mud and boulders tumbled downhill at high velocity and destroyed or buried houses." As the country's lead disaster response agency, the Nepal Red Cross has assumed the coordination role for humanitarian organizations and also for the government. "Normally, the Red Cross would support the government in relief efforts following a disaster. This time, the roles have been reversed," says Som Prasad Humgain, President of Red Cross' Kabhre branch. "Now, humanitarians and government officials have asked the Red Cross to take the lead in assessing and distributing relief among the affected people." The remote and harsh terrain and the widespread nature of the disaster has meant that many humanitarian organizations have asked the Red Cross to distribute relief supplies on their behalf. "The Red Cross is everywhere and its widespread network and access is an advantage," says Rabindra Rajbanshi, program officer with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). "This is why our organization trusted the relief goods it procured to Red Cross for identifying the beneficiaries and distributing the relief." Similarly, UNHCR provided the Jhapa branch of the Nepal Red Cross kitchen sets to distribute among the flood-affected people in the villages of Jhapa. One such beneficiary is 60-year-old Krishna Bahadur Gurung and his wife Nayagaon in Kabhre district. Four of their family of nine died in the landslide and three others were battling for life in the hospital when the Red Cross came to their aid. With no home in the rainy season and the rest of the family in hospital, the couple received tarpaulin sheets to live under and a family relief package provided by ADRA. "We will forever remember the compassion shown by Red Cross volunteers," Gurung says. The Nepal Red Cross has already assisted more than 43,000 people in eastern and western Nepal. "But our relief stocks are severely depleted and emergency relief needs are growing in the country," says Nepal Red Cross Secretary General, Dev Ratna Dhakhwa. The Nepal Red Cross has been given the role of coordinating all relief for this disaster due to its extensive network of volunteers and staff and its ability to reach communities in remote areas, which at times can take several days and can only be done on foot. The International Federation appeal for Nepal is part of a regional Red Cross Red Crescent response to the current floods crisis in South Asia. An appeal has already been launched for Bangladesh where 3.5 million people are affected. Another appeal is being prepared and will be launched shortly for the floods affected areas of India. Related Links: Nepal Appeal: Monsoon flooding and landslides Nepal Appeal: Donate online 16 July 2002 - Nepal Red Cross respond to landslide tragedy More on: Nepal |
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