Torrential and persistent monsoon rains over the past week in central
Nepal have caused significant damage and loss of life. Twenty central
districts, both hill and plains located in a swathe about 100 kms
wide from Kathmandu to the India border to the south have been seriously
affected. The intensity of the rainfall has exceeded records. In Kathmandu
it was the heaviest for 30 years and in the plains district of Sarlahi
one day’s rainfall exceeded 200 mm, the heaviest recorded in the past
200 years.
Reports issued by the Home Ministry have stated that more than 198
people have been killed and 105 injured in `the worst ever floods
and landslides’. The same statement mentioned that 30 people are still
missing, 4,470 families have been severely affected, 3,760 houses
have been damaged and thousands of hectares of fertile farmland washed
away by floods and landslides.
The majority of deaths and damage have occurred in the central terai
(plains and hills) districts of Makwanpur, Rauthat, Chitwan, Dhanusha,
Mahottari and Kavre.
With some respite from the rains, Government agencies and the Nepal
Red Cross Society have now commenced assessment of the damage.
The affected districts are not the current working areas of ACT member
Lutheran World Federation Nepal programme (ACT/LWF Nepal) which
operates development programmes mainly in the far west of Nepal and
rehabilitation for 100,000 Bhutanese refugees and host communities
in the south-east of Nepal. Rains in those regions have been less
than the seasonal average.
Nevertheless, LWF Nepal is arranging for experienced staff to make
a preliminary visit over the next two days to conduct a preliminary
assessment of the worst-affected districts. On the basis of this assessment
and further information, a decision regarding whether to seek ACT
assistance will be taken.
