KATHMANDU: Families severely affected by the Bhotekoshi flood on August 26 will receive Rs 100,000 each in cash assistance from the Nepal Red Cross Society to meet their immediate needs and support their recovery.
The assistance will be provided under the Samunnati Programme, implemented by the Ministry of Women, Children, Senior Citizens and Social Security.
An agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday between the ministry and the Nepal Red Cross Society in the presence of Minister for Women, Children, Senior Citizens and Social Security Sita Badi.
Acting Secretary Chakra Bahadur Budha signed the agreement on behalf of the ministry, while Nepal Red Cross Society Chairman Dr Bishal Kumar Bhandari signed on behalf of the Society.
An initial assessment estimates that around 6,000 families in 63 districts affected by the devastating floods will benefit from the programme.
Nepal Red Cross Society General Secretary Rishiraman Khanal said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority would provide a list of affected families.
The Red Cross will then identify and verify eligible beneficiaries before depositing the cash directly into their bank accounts.
Beneficiary families will be able to use the assistance according to their most urgent needs, including food, clothing, healthcare and sanitation, essential household items, transportation, communication and livelihood support.
The Red Cross said priority would be given to women-headed households, persons with disabilities, children requiring special care, senior citizens, marginalized communities, gender and sexual minorities, and other vulnerable families.
The Society has been providing humanitarian assistance since the Bhotekoshi flood, which claimed scores of lives and caused extensive damage to property in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan districts.
Its response has included multipurpose cash assistance, shelter support, water, sanitation and hygiene services, mental health and psychosocial support, protection, community engagement and inclusion.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have also been supporting post-disaster efforts, including the search for missing persons and the management of the deceased.
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