The United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) has started airlifting food grains to the drought-hit districts of western Nepal.

A press release issued by the WFP said it began emergency helicopter operations to help feed 250,000 drought-affected people in the far west.

The statement quoted WFP Representative Richard Ragan as saying, “Of the 10 districts we’re hoping to feed, only Bajura, Dailekh, Kalikot, and Jajarkot have benefited so far. The other six hard hit areas of Rolpa, Rukum, Dolpa, Humla, Jumla and Mugu won’t get any food unless we are able to raise more funds.” He further said, “We have also asked government if we might get the support of the Nepal Army for transport assistance.”

The start of the monsoon rains has now made road access nearly impossible with trucks blocked by landslides and rising rivers, the statement said.

The statement further informed that as of 30 July, 188.12 metric tones had already been airlifted to Bajura district. An additional 1,300 metric tones of food will be airlifted to Humla, Jumla, Dolpa, and Mugu districts.

In addition to the airlift, 1,100 metric tones of food-aid have been delivered by truck to Bajura, Jajarkot, Kalikot, and Dailekh districts.

The statement further said that WFP is continuing to closely monitor the food security situation in the far-west and has received reports that some villages are again facing problems with this year’s crop as a result of hailstorms, strong summer winds and poor rainfall.

Meanwhile, the United States Mission to Nepal has announced $250,000 grant to the WFP’s Emergency Operation to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of food-insecure, drought-affected parts of 10 mid and far-western districts of Nepal.

The grant for WFP programme to airlift food to the drought-hit districts would be provided through the USAID, a press release issued by the American Embassy said Tuesday.