KATHMANDU: A month has passed since the Bhotekoshi River unleashed a devastating flash flood, leaving a trail of death and destruction across several districts, while rescue, relief and recovery efforts continue amid enormous reconstruction needs.
According to the latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 1,453 people have died in the disaster so far, while 5,550 remain missing. A total of 13,795 people have been rescued, although many of those rescued are still staying in temporary shelters.
Around 20,477 personnel from Nepal’s three security agencies have been working around the clock in search, rescue, relief, and other response operations.
The disaster is estimated to have caused damage and losses worth more than Rs. 408.28 billion. According to the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) report, an estimated Rs. 723.3152 billion will be required for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
The devastating floods damaged 7,570 private houses, along with 48 public buildings, 18 schools, seven health institutions, and 30 cultural heritage sites.
Similarly, 13 hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 759 MW and five solar power plants with a total capacity of 24 MW were affected. Around 69 kilometers of roads were damaged, while 37 motorable bridges were affected, including 33 that were completely washed away. Sixty-eight suspension bridges were also damaged.
The floods affected around 8,300 households and approximately 40,000 people. Agricultural production across about 1,806 hectares was affected, along with livestock, poultry, and fisheries.
Seventeen bank branches and around 4,800 business establishments were also affected by the disaster.
Search, rescue, and relief operations are continuing, while efforts are also underway to restore damaged suspension bridges, reopen road networks, and carry out other essential recovery work.
‘The state and Red Cross are present in the crisis’
Immediately after the devastating flood, Jagan Chapagain, Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), called on Nepal Red Cross volunteers and IFRC teams to immediately engage in search, rescue, and relief operations.
Through necessary coordination and initiatives, the IFRC also approved US$1.2 million through its emergency response funding mechanism to support the response.
The Nepal Red Cross Society activated its Emergency Operations Center and mobilized district branches and volunteers for search and rescue operations. A team led by Society President Dr. Bishal Kumar Bhandari also visited the affected areas and initiated response efforts.
Red Cross volunteers have been supporting search and rescue operations while identifying the immediate needs of affected communities and coordinating assistance.
According to the IFRC, its emergency response mechanism enabled the rapid delivery of essential supplies and services to affected areas, including drinking water, tents, tarpaulins, blankets, sleeping mats, first-aid materials, stretchers, body bags, mental health and psychosocial support, emergency health services, and sanitation kits.
Chapagain said the rapid response helped provide immediate assistance to people affected by the disaster.
“The timely deployment of the emergency response helped in the immediate flood response. Rescue teams, including volunteers, were able to reach the affected areas, and people received essential relief materials,” he said.
According to Chapagain, the response helped reduce the risks of further deaths, disease, and human suffering while also helping build trust among affected communities.
“It gave communities the feeling that ‘the state and the Red Cross are present’ in times of crisis. This helped reduce social tension and mistrust,” he said.
Chapagain said resource mobilization for the Bhotekoshi flood response was also rapid, reflecting the nature of the flash flood. Emergency response mechanisms and an international appeal were activated quickly, he said.
He described the Bhotekoshi flood response as a potential model for a “climate-sensitive humanitarian response.”
The Nepal Red Cross Society has said that a range of humanitarian assistance activities are continuing as part of its expanded response to the Bhotekoshi flood.
Nepal Red Cross General Secretary Rishiraman Khanal said the organization has been responding since the early days of the flood. He said that, in addition to search and rescue assistance provided immediately after the disaster, humanitarian support is currently being provided in housing and non-food items, food distribution, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, health services, mental health and psychosocial support, emergency health clinics, family reunification and restoration of contact, and multipurpose cash and cash-and-voucher assistance.
Humanitarian assistance continues
According to a statement issued by General Secretary Khanal, the Nepal Red Cross has so far distributed 1,218 sets of housing and non-food items, 563 tarpaulins, 701 mattresses, and 1,324 blankets. Food assistance has also been provided to around 2,000 affected families.
During the past month, drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services were provided to 2,200 flood-affected households. The Red Cross also arranged 18 water tanks and supplied water by tanker to locations where it was needed.
The statement said 1,710 flood-affected people received mental health and psychosocial support and primary psychosocial assistance. Another 1,239 people received health examinations, medicines, and other essential services through Red Cross emergency health clinics.
Under family reunification and restoration of contact services, 2,291 search-related cases were handled. The Nepal Red Cross also provided 2,000 body-management bags to various security agencies of the Government of Nepal.
Under its Multipurpose Cash Assistance/Cash and Voucher Assistance program, cash assistance was provided to 198 households in Dhading and 262 households in Nuwakot to meet the immediate needs of flood-affected communities.
Through its community complaints, suggestions, and needs-collection service, the organization collected around 350 complaints, inquiries, requests, and suggestions from affected communities through various channels. Necessary information, facilitation, and referral services were then provided.
Under its Protection, Gender and Inclusion program, 587 dignity kits and 1,087 hygiene kits were distributed. The Red Cross also provided services to 1,018 children through child-friendly safe spaces.
The organization has also operated information and support rooms at 17 locations to provide affected communities with information, assistance, and facilitation.
Through its Information, Education and Communication program, the Red Cross has developed and disseminated information through social media and radio on flood and landslide safety, early warnings, heavy-rainfall precautions, drinking water and sanitation, water purification, health and hygiene, family reunification and restoration of contact, access to relief and services, multipurpose cash assistance, and procedures for submitting community complaints and suggestions.
The Nepal Red Cross said its priority is to continue providing relief and humanitarian assistance based on the needs of displaced and vulnerable families, weather-related risks, and local conditions. It said it would ensure timely availability of essential supplies and further strengthen its response according to the needs and priorities of affected communities.
The organization also plans to implement needs-based programs in housing, health, livelihoods, drinking water, and sanitation, including in areas identified as priorities by the Government of Nepal, to support the rehabilitation and recovery of affected families.
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