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by Pratigya R Khaling, World Vision Nepal Communications
World Vision is providing relief supplies to some of the worst flood-affected areas in western Terai, Nepal after torrential rainfall severely flooded parts of Kailali and Kanchanpur Districts, leaving 45 people reported dead and dozens missing.
Kailali ADP, funded by World Vision Australia, is affected by the flooding; approximately 1,200 Registered Children live in the area.
The homes of some World Vision staff working in Kailali District were inundated with water but all staff members are unharmed.
Search and rescue operations are on-going but hampered due to inaccessibility. Flood-affected people are fleeing their homes and taking shelter in government schools.
In response to the tremendous need in hardest-hit areas, World Vision and partner agencies loaded urgent humanitarian aid supplies onto a government helicopter reaching Geta, Malakheti, Godavri and Nigabi Village Development Committees (VDC).
Lakshmeshwor Mahato, a World Vision aid worker, described the situation as dire: “We reached the flood affected area via a helicopter. On route we passed by 22 affected Village Development Committees, out of which 10 are severely affected.”
Mahato said the chopper had to navigate through heavy rain and bad weather before it could land. “The helicopter had a difficult time landing. Finally we touched down in one school where we were able to distribute emergency supplies like rice, sugar, noodles and biscuits.”
The sudden and unexpected flooding in western Terai comes after a day of heavy rain and is unrelated to the devastating floods in Eastern Terai which displaced thousands in Nepal, India and Bangladesh after Nepal’s Kosi River changed course and breached its bank.
Isaac Anup Rana, Risk Management Officer for World Vision International Nepal said, “This flooding in western Terai was unexpected as monsoon season in Nepal is supposed to be over by September. The may worsen as local weather reports are forecasting further heavy downpours in the days to come.”
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