Recent floods affected more than 16 million population in South Asia and above 500 people together in Nepal, India and Bangladesh.

According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), these floods are turning out to be one of the worst humanitarian crises in years.

“This is fast becoming one of the most serious humanitarian crises this region has seen in many years, and urgent action is needed to meet the growing needs of millions of people affected by these devastating floods. Millions of people across Nepal, Bangladesh and India face severe food shortages and disease caused by polluted flood waters,” said Martin Faller, IFRC Deputy Regional Director.

Martin further informed that one-third of Bangladesh and Nepal were inundated in floods and more than 11 million population were affected across northern parts of India.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General Dev Ratna Dhakhwa opined that the flood situation would likely result in food security challenges. “We fear that this destruction will lead to severe food shortages,” said Ratna Dhakhwa.

Relief Distribution Paces up in Mid-Western Nepal

Relief measures are fastly reaching flood victims of the four worst-hit districts of the mid-western Nepal. Undertaken by the District Natural Disaster Relief Committee, the government authorities are distributing cash, grams, rice grains, clothes and tents, among others to the victims affected by floods and landslides.

Various cluster groups formed under the DNDRC for overseeing education, health and sanitation, rehabilitation and relief distribution programmes have been sent to the villages struck by floods, informed Banke Chief District Officer (CDO) Ramesh Kumar KC.

Disease Break-out in Flood-hit Regions

Public across various flood-hit regions are suffering from severe health issues. The number of patients in the district hospital and other health centers of the district has increased.

Some have reportedly died of snake bite, diarrhea, common cold, among other problems.

According to Chuman Lal Das, Chief of District Public Health Office, patients suffering from diarrhea and common cold, among other diseases, increased in the flood-affected areas of the Siraha District. Health workers could treat patients as there was no dearth of medicines in the health facilities, Das informed.

On the other hand, hundreds of flood victims in Saptari are still waiting for relief packages. According to the locals, rice being distributed through helicopters is running out of stock and they were asked to borrow from their neighbors.

“We are compelled to live in hunger and our children have not eaten properly after the disaster, state presence is negligence,” said a local Bhutiya Devi Ram.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Development (MoAD) Secretary Suroj Pokhrel today informed that the Ministry is currently developing an immediate relief package to the flood-hit farmers of Tarai, which will be announced on August 23, 2017.

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