| NRCS Press Release
Kathmandu – August 24, 2008.
The NRCS is fully deploying its disaster management
structures to support the displaced people of the Saptakoshi
River flooding.
The initial Damage and Emergency Need Assessment carried
out by the NRCS has demonstrated that more than 54,000
people living in the eastern belt of the Saptakoshi
River have been displaced so far. The displaced persons
are accommodated in schools, with relatives or other
open buildings. A considerable number of affected people
is reluctant to leave their houses and belongings and
is thus staying in the affected area with security forces
continuing to rescue people. At current, 26 temporary
shelter camps have been erected in schools in Inaruwa,
in which more than 17,000 displaced have been put up
and are supported with the most necessary relief goods.
The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) headquarter and
district chapters are working in close coordination
with the Home Ministry, the civil authorities in the
district and other stakeholders. As already practiced
in previous relief operations, the NRCS was requested
by the local authorities to take the lead in the distribution
of relief materials. For this, the NRCS has deployed
its trained staff from the national headquarters to
the field to support the relief operations carried out
by the NRCS district chapters of Sunsari and Saptari.
Approximately 200 trained volunteers of Sunsari, Jhapa,
Morang, Saptari, Dhanusha, Siraha, Sarlahi and Mahottari
district chapters are mobilized in the affected areas.
Further Damage and Emergency Need Assessments are being
carried out by a joint team of the NRCS and the local
authorities. NRCS volunteers and trained staff have
been mobilized for the registration of the displaced
in the camps in order to be able to distribute beneficiary
cards. First Aid services are being provided by Nepal
Red Cross volunteers.
As there is a need to support displaced persons outside
of the camps, the NRCS regional warehouses have dispatched
tarpaulins to support emergency shelters for the affected
population.
In addition to food, as of today, a total number of
2,730 tarpaulins, 1,000 utensils, 600 blankets, 200
kitchen sets, 200 plastic buckets, 200 cartons of instant
noodles, and 200 male dhoti were made available for
the beneficiaries.
The Government is expected to provide interim support
for 7.000 families heavily affected by the floods and
has requested the NRCS for support in the rehabilitation
phase. With the relief efforts fully underway, the NRCS
is preparing for providing the displaced with early
recovery support.
The NRCS is currently advocating for supporting people
to return to their original land as soon as the situation
allows and to re-establish their livelihoods as soon
as possible. The establishment of interim camps needs
to stay an option of last resort. In order to support
the affected population in their villages, the NRCS
calls for unhindered access to the affected population
and the creation of a secure environment to ensure humanitarian
support.
For further information, please contact:
Nepal Red Cross Society
Mr. Indra Adhikari
Director for Communication
Red Cross Marg, Kalimati
Tel: +977 98510 86198
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