Recent floods in South Asia have not only hit the public and infrastructure, they have also shown a severe impact on endangered species of the region, displacing many of them.

Intense flooding swept away endangered one-horned rhinos of the Chitwan National Park (CNP), one of the main habitats of endangered one-horned rhinos hosting 606 of the total 645 one-horned rhinos of Nepal, into different areas of West Champaran District of Bihar (India).

With this, forest officials of Nepal and experts from Bihar began their joint rescue operations in search of missing rhinos of Nepal that were swept away into India, informed the Chitwan National Park (CNP) authorities on September 04, 2017.

Authorities further informed that they have so far rescued eight rhinos (three rhino calves and five adult rhinos) and are still continuing their search suspecting more such cases.

“Eight rhinos have already been rescued, but there could be more stranded in India. So, we have been searching for them,” said Nurendra Aryal, Assistant Conservation Officer, CNP.

According to the forest officials’ estimates, around 15 rhinos were swept away into different parts of Bihar due to heavy floods caused by the River Gandak or Narayani in Bihar and Nepal from August 12, 2017. However, there is no information on the status of remaining rhinos.

“At least 15 rhinos from Nepal were swept into West Champaran in the floods that came after very heavy rainfall in the catchment area of the Gandak. There could be more. So far, a joint team of around 250 people from Bihar and Nepal has been able to rescue six of them,” said Amit Kumar, DFO-cum-deputy director of Bettiah-2 forest range in West Champaran on September 01, 2017.

World-famous Kaziranga of Assam Badly Hit

Not just Nepal! Kaziranga National Park of Assam, home to the world’s largest population of rare one-horned rhinos and other endangered species, also suffered a major damage due to recent floods.

According to Kaziranga Director Satyendra Singh, rescue teams have recovered 225 dead animals since August 12, 2017, with 15 of them were rhinos (as of September 21, 2017).

“Nearly 200 deer, four elephant calves, four wild boars, two water buffaloes and one porcupine were among the other animals found dead in Kaziranga, which is still 20 percent under water. A Bengal tiger also died in a fight with a herd of elephants. It is possible that due to floods, there was a space crunch and it led to a territorial conflict,” informed Singh on September 21, 2017.

Joint Rescue Operation, A Great Opportunity

Speaking about the joint rescue operation being undertaken by officials of both the countries, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) of Bihar Bharat Jyoti said, “The joint operation is a great opportunity for us and a progressive step in mutual cooperation between India and Nepal to save wildlife.”

Bharat Jyoti also informed that officials from both the countries are going to discuss trans-boundary arrangements on wild animals, biodiversity and conservation later in September 2017, in New Delhi. Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve in Bihar and Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh are contiguous to the forests in Nepal, he added.

A team of veterinary and CNP officials have been in India since August 15, 2017 and a joint team of more than 250 people from Bihar and Nepal were in search of missing rhinos (as of September 01, 2017).

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In the light of recent floods that affected South Asia, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has released a report highlighting huge loss of children across the region due to the disaster.

16 million children were affected by massive flooding in South Asia, with millions more at risk, informed UNICEF’s latest press release on September 02, 2017. According to the release, all these affected children and their families are in urgent need of life-saving support.

Jean Gough, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, said, “Millions of children have seen their lives swept away by these devastating floods. There is a danger that the worst could still be to come as rains continue and flood waters move south.”

Country-wise Data of Child Victims

Country-wise data in UNICEF’s release shows:

• Around 3 million children (out of the total 8 million victims) in Bangladesh, with an estimated 696,169 houses, 2,292 primary and community schools damaged by floodwaters. Apart from this, more than 13,035 cases of water-borne diseases were also reported
• 680,000 child victims (out of 1.7 million victims) in Nepal, with more than 185,126 homes and 1,958 schools damaged, thus affecting the education of 253,605 children
• Four Indian states in northern India saw 12.33 million children out of the total 31 million victims, with around 805,183 houses (partially or fully) and 15,455 schools damaged, disrupting the education of nearly one million students

As an Immediate Support

In Nepal, UNICEF is working in collaboration with the government departments and other partners to launch and scale-up its relief measures for flood victims. The organization is planning for an intensified immunization programme in 16 flood-affected districts. A special focus will be laid on measures related to control Severe Acute Malnutrition.

UNICEF has so far provided over USD 320,000 worth relief material for Health, Nutrition, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Child protection and Education activities as an immediate support to Nepal’s flood victims.

In Bangladesh, UNICEF is preparing to provide emergency education services to around 6,000 children immediately. Apart from that, it is also establishing temporary transitional schools, learning spaces and organizing boat transportation for children and teachers for their commute to schools.

UNICEF is also undertaking relief and rescue measures in flood-affected Indian states.

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The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) of Department of Health Services, Nepal raises concern over increasing number of H1N1 influenza or swine flu in the country.

With the recent death of a 37-year old woman in Kathmandu, the death toll of people affected by swine flu has reached six, informed EDCD.

“Cases of H1N1 influenza are on the rise,” said Chief of Epidemiology Section of EDCD Dr. Guna Nidhi Sharma, while raising concerns that there could be more cases of swine flu in the coming days.

So far, six people died of H1N1 influenza in this year, which include two from Kaski and one each from Syangja, Nawalparasi, Lalitpur and Kathmandu districts.

Sharma cautioned public to be vigilant and immediately visit health facilities if they fear signs of swine flu virus.

Sharma noted that children, elderly people above 65 years and those who underwent organ transplantation, suffering from asthma & lung problems, infected with HIV & Hepatitis and having diabetes are more susceptible to swine flu.

Six out of 20 blood and throat swab samples of suspected cases collected from Syangja tested positive for swine flu, informed Syangja District Health Office Public Health Officer Yam Prasad Sharma.

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