UN humanitarian coordinator visits flood-hit areas

September 1, 2006
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The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Nepal, Matthew Kahane, visited Banke and Bardiya districts on Friday to assess the rapidly emerging humanitarian needs there and to express solidarity with those affected by the recent floods.

A press statement issued by the UN office in Kathmandu, Kahane met with people affected by the floods earlier in the day and stressed the need for relief efforts.

“People urgently need basic shelter, food, clothes, water and medicine,” he said, adding, “An emphasis has to be put on in the surveillance of communicable diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, viral hepatitis, skin diseases and malaria. Soon they will also need help to rebuild their lives as many have lost everything.”

Kahane, who is the Nepal representative of the UNDP, applauded the efforts underway by government institutions, and the Nepal Red Cross Society and international non-government organisations in extending assistance to the thousands affected by the floods.

He said, “The UN is also assisting the relief effort and stands ready to extend further support if required.”

Dozens of people have been killed, hundreds injured, and thousands of people have been displaced due to floods in these districts over the last few days. Though the government has claimed to have sent relief materials and medical teams to the affected areas, reports say they have not reached to the majority of needy people.

So far, the UN Children’s Fund, through the Red Cross, has dispatched relief supplies including: tarpaulins, blankets and oral re-hydration salts, water purification materials, household utensils, and blankets to the worst affected areas. Likewise, the UN Population Fund has set up two mobile health clinics in Banke and Bardiya to support basic health care services. They are also pre-positioning care packages for a total of 700 pregnant women and those in need of post-natal care.

Meanwhile, according to UN statement, the World Health Organisation today dispatched medicines while the World Food Programme is gearing-up to send food relief if required. UNDP is paying some of the cost of critical transportation and communication costs and stands ready to support longer-term rehabilitation work.

“The best way we, all the organisations and government institutions, can quickly reach critical assistance to the thousands displaced by this flood is to coordinate our efforts,” Kahane said.