United Nations aids Nepal in wake of floods

(New York: 14 September 2006): The United Nations agencies, together with their non-governmental partners and the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS), are providing assistance to families affected by the floods and landslides that have hit Nepal this year.

According to the NRCS, more than 45,000 persons have received relief assistance to date. The World Food Programme (WFP) expects to deliver a total of 1,300 metric tonnes of rice, lentils, salt and oil to those affected in the country's western regions.

In the health sector, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that no epidemics have occurred. The WHO, in collaboration with the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) and the District Health Office, will continue monitoring the health situation -- especially in relation to vector borne diseases.

An assessment of longer-term needs in the areas of shelter and education is also underway. A total of 5,700 educational kits will be provided to affected districts by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and its NGO partners.

According to the latest assessments conducted by the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS), a total of 26 districts have been affected. The estimated total number of affected families is around 16,000 but is likely to increase as assessments in newly-affected districts are still underway.

In the most affected districts of Banke, Bardiya and Achham, deliveries of immediate relief assistance continue despite the bad weather that has occasionally hampered transportation of goods to the most remote areas such as Achham.

The United Nations, donor agencies, and international and national NGOs continue to support the efforts of the District Disaster Relief Committee and the NRCS to ensure that needs are being met. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is continuously supporting the district government's coordination structure and coordinating disaster response meetings.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.