Contaminated environment caused by floodwaters is posing serious health challenges to hundreds of people across various flood-hit regions of Nepal.

Viral infections, fever, common cold, diarrhoea, headache and skin diseases are seen in common among the public of Tarai, Rautahat, Parsa, Dhading, Sindhuli, Bara and other districts.

In Saptari, around 25 people are suffering from diarrhea. Jageshwor Raya, a local, informed that people in the region are falling sick because of drinking contaminated water from tubes and are also not getting on-field medical assistance.

An official from Siraha District Health Office informed that health facilities in the district are witnessing around 50 viral fever cases every day. The Bardiya District Hospital is also witnessing more than 50 patients at its emergency unit.

Meanwhile, the number of patient visits to the Sindhuli District Hospital has also increased from 40 (earlier) to more than 300 patients (currently).

This situation exists despite the efforts of concerned district health officials and local authorities in running medical camps in the flood-hit areas.

According to the health officials, recent floods have contaminated almost all the water sources thus giving rise to public health issues. Most of the sick are those who have been living in temporary shelters after the floods destroyed their houses, they informed.

80 Percent Victims Diagnosed with Viral Illness

Dr Udaya Narayan Singh of Narayani Sub-regional Hospital informed that nearly 80 percent of flood survivors were diagnosed with some form of viral illness at the medical camps run by the hospital at the flood-affected areas recently.

“Of the total number of patients reaching hospital, around 20 per cent are children,” said Dr Krishna Lal Upreti at District Hospital, Dhading.

Dr Lochan Karki, who was involved in one of the medical camps in a flood-affected village, termed water contamination, poor hygiene and exposure to elements as the major causes of disease outbreak.

Property Worth Rs 440 Million Damaged

Floods wiped out three key irrigation projects in Saptari causing a damage to property worth Rs 440 million.

According to Chandra Irrigation Management Division Office Saptari, Koshi Pump Irrigation System, Chandra Irrigation System and Koshi Western Distribution Irrigation System were the projects that suffered the damage.

Chief of the Office Prasunna Mishra informed that they could not carry out the repair works due to budget shortage.

MoAD Announces Subsidy for Flood-hit Farmers

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Development (MoAD) announced a subsidy package worth Rs 1.25 billion for the flood-hit farmers of Tarai region.

Under the same package, MoAD has also announced Rs 250,000 assistance for the construction of a food market in every flood-hit district to ensure market access to the agricultural produce.

The government also announced Rs 50,000 assistance per hectare to the farmers, who suffered losses in fishery, to purchase fishlings and reconstruct their ponds.

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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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