While
the districts of Banke and Bardia in mid-western Nepal are being severely
affected by monsoon rains, the effects of a drought from late 2005
to May 2006 and an April hailstorm are now becoming more critical
in ten hill districts of northwestern Nepal. As a result of this severe
weather, the winter and summer crops have failed, and the majority
of the residents in this region have been suffering from food shortages
since last year’s winter season. People have tried to cope on their
own for several months, but they are able to do so less now. The affected
districts are: Jumla, Humla, Mugu, Dolpa, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Rukum,
Rolpa, Bajura, Dailekh.
Impact
on human life
All vegetable
and fruit crops were lost in the drought and hailstorm, and livestock
were affected. Because of the food shortages, the state of health
and nutrition of the area’s residents is very poor and is deteriorating
daily. However, no deaths have been reported so far. To cope with
the situation, people have started to sell their non-essential belongings,
utensils and livestock to feed their families. This month there has
still been no rain in the affected districts, and the situation may
further deteriorate if situation remains the same.
In response to
the needs for food assistance, the World Food Program (WFP) has provided
assistance to the drought-affected populations of the mid-west and
far-west of Nepal. Families in some 70 village development committees
(VDCs) in drought-hit areas have received two-month rations of rice
and fortified wheat flour.
ACT member
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Nepal sent its Rapid Assessment
Team to one of the most-affected districts (Kalikot) and reported
that there is a dire need for food assistance in other VDCs not covered
by the WFP intervention. The team visited the ten most-affected VDCs
in Kalikot district and found that the wheat, barley, potato and mustard
crops were affected by the drought and storm. Fruit production was
also severely affected. In spite of the drought, many people were
trying to farm.
The LWF-ACT office
in Kathmandu and the western region have consulted with WFP, Nepal
Red Cross, government agencies and other humanitarian-aid agencies
working in the region and have concluded that people are deprived
of food and that there is a dire need of humanitarian assistance.
LWF-ACT intends
to address the immediate crisis in the most-affected VDCs of Kalikot
with short-term emergency relief.
Current security
situation
Following the
cease-fire in April 2006, the security situation in Nepal is relatively
better. As a result, the operational space for humanitarian-aid agencies
is more open, and all development and humanitarian activities are
running smoothly.
LWF-ACT believes
that the planned activities will not be affected because of the humanitarian
nature of the proposed work and ACT-LWF’s transparent working modality.
Moreover, as its relief operations will be carried out with the collaboration
of the District Natural Disaster Relief Committee of the Nepal government,
local authorities, Nepal Red Cross, WFP, NGO Federation and civil
society, the probability of any disturbances is less.
LWF-ACT’s initial
plans are to provide rice to 7,000 of the most-affected people. Special
attention will be given to women, children, widows, disabled and elderly
people. The rice will be procured at Nepalgunj and will be transported
to Rakam of Dailekh District by truck, and from there, the rice will
be transported to villages in Kalikot District by donkeys and mules.
The ACT Coordinating
Office is awaiting LWF’s proposal for an appeal for this emergency.
