Call For Access
Amid violence by armed Madhesi outfits and strike by Chure activists, UN calls for unhindered access for aid workers in flood-affected region
By A CORRESPONDENT
The UN has appealed for free and smooth access of relief workers and delivery of aid materials to flood-affected regions. After his three-day visit to the flood-affected areas in eastern region, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Matthew Kahane has pointed out the need to respect the Basic Operating Guidelines of the UN, donors and I/NGOs.
“It is essential that relief work is not interfered with by any individuals or groups of people and I urge all parties in the flood affected districts to allow humanitarian and development workers to carry on their activities without fear or any form of interference. Bandhs and intimidation obviously hinder relief work directly,” stated Kahane.
In a statement issued by United Nations Information Center, Kahane has said that in absence of unhindered access for humanitarian workers and delivery of relief, it will be very difficult to provide the much needed support to flood victims.
The eastern region, particularly Terai districts, has been affected by violence and killings by several armed outfits in recent months. Since last few days, the activists of Chure Bhawar Ekata Samaj have staged strike in highways, which could affect the transport of relief materials and aid workers.
Kahane visited the eastern region to assess the effects of the floods and the potential longer-term humanitarian consequences of this natural disaster, according to a press release issued by UNIC.
“I am very happy to see that most of the flood waters have receded, but I am struck by the considerable damage caused by the flood and its immediate and longer-term impact on the livelihoods of the people affected,” stated Kahane.
Kahane visited some of the most affected VDCs and held meetings with the Presidents and District Chapter Chairmen of Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) and the Chief District Officers in Sunsari, Saptari and Siraha districts, the release adds. He also attended a regional coordination meeting of UN agencies, the NRCS and the INGOs involved in the flood response in Biratnagar, Morang District.
Although encouraged by the fact that affected families had resumed their daily agricultural and employment activities including rice planting, he was concerned whether the flood victims had enough resources to re-establish their livelihoods without additional help.
He further witnessed effective assessments being done by the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS), the Police, the Armed Police (APF), and community volunteers under the overall coordination of the CDOs with resources provided by the Government, international and national Non Governmental Organisations (I/NGOs) and the United Nations (UN) as well as local private entrepreneurs through the NRCS.
“We believe that the NRCS as an impartial Nepali organisation with a country-wide network is best placed to continue doing assessments and providing immediate flood response with the support of law enforcement personnel and UN agencies,” said Kahane adding, “We heard from the villages of the need for more comprehensive river management arrangements and embankments to avoid future flooding.”
With support from the Government, UN, I/NGOs and the private sector, NRCS seemed to have sufficient stocks to take care of the immediate needs of the affected. But the logistical support like boats, jeeps; and the fuel to operate them, to get the relief materials to the affected people from the district headquarters on time, remained in short supply, the release adds.
“Now that the water has receded, there is a need for detailed assessment under the supervision of the District Administration and with the support of the NGOs, UN, NRCS and other technical people to assess crop loss and damaged infrastructure like roads, bridges and irrigation canals.”
According to the latest NRCS estimates, 96 people have died; a total of 337, 241 people are reportedly affected throughout the country; 22,248 houses are partially and 15,819 houses are completely destroyed.
RED CROSS ISSUES APPEAL
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has made an emergency appeal “for $1.7 million to help more than 20,000 families affected by torrential monsoon rains, landslides and extensive flooding in the south of Nepal.”
The Nepal Red Cross Society has estimated that more than 330,000 people have been affected due to floods.
“The hardest hit communities need to receive food, clean water, and access to sanitation facilities,” says the secretary general of the Nepal Red Cross, Dev Ratna Dhakhwa. “But we also need to look beyond this emergency phase, towards helping people return to a normal way of life and enable vulnerable communities to be prepared for future disasters such as this,” he adds, in a statement issued by the Red Cross.
The Nepal Red Cross has been leading the distribution of relief in the country and is working closely with the government, United Nations agencies and other aid organizations. Volunteers in each of the 33 affected districts have so far distributed rice, noodles, salt and sugar to around 30,000 families, along with first aid and ambulance services. Plastic sheets, cooking utensils and blankets have also been given to more than 3,000 families.
