Nepal: ACT update Nepal 1/2002 - Flood & landslide victims ASNP-21(Rev 1)

Appeal Target: US$ 71,292
Balance Requested from ACT Network: US$ 31,111

Geneva, 19 September 2002

Dear Colleagues,

Since issuing ASNP-21 on 9 August 2002 fresh reports have been received from western Nepal of serious food deficits in the Kailali District resulting directly and indirectly from flood and related seasonal factors. This has come to attention only after nearly completing the crisis phase of the assistance in the four other districts. Kailali is in the western part of Nepal where the monsoon arrives later.

Since the funds pledged for the crisis phase have not been fully utilised, the Lutheran World Federation, Nepal have requested to include up to 500 families for the Kailali District - for food distribution only for a period of between 15 to 30 days. The original appeal includes food distribution so this is an appeal for an extension of the geographical area within the existing budget.

LWF Nepal still needs funds to complete the implementation of this project. We strongly urge our donors to consider further funding for this appeal.

Project Completion Date: 31 December 2002

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested

Please kindly send your contributions to the following ACT bank account:

Account Number - 240-432629.60A (USD)
Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together
UBS SA
PO Box 2600
1211 Geneva 2
SWITZERLAND

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (direct tel. +4122/791.60.38, e-mail address jkg@act-intl.org) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind co-operation.

For further information:

ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org

John Nduna
Acting Director, ACT

ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency response.

The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.

I. REQUESTING ACT MEMBER

• Lutheran World Federation/Nepal Programme (LWF Nepal)

II. IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER & PARTNER INFORMATION

LWF Nepal is the field programme of LWF/DWS, Geneva. The programme was established in 1984 and remains one of the leading international development and relief organisations (INGOs) in Nepal. LWF Nepal has ongoing development programmes and has since also implemented several emergency programmes. They include relief and rehabilitation of school buildings after the earthquake in 1988 and floods in 1995. In 1998, LWF Nepal received ACT Rapid Response Funds for relief support to flood victims. In 2000, an Act Appeal for relief and resettlement assistance to freed bonded labourers in SW Nepal was implemented in far-western Nepal.

Since LWF Nepal’s establishment, it has implemented many projects in partnership with local NGOs. From the programme’s inception, the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) was one of LWF Nepal’s main implementing partners and good working relations and co-operation has been maintained, even though LWF Nepal has phased out development assistance from those areas where NRCS was the formal local implementing partner. LWF Nepal also implemented several Community Projects in partnership with NRCS of which the Water Resource Development Project in Baglung was a major one. During 1989~92, LWF Nepal implemented community development programmes in Mahottari district (one of the planned intervention areas for this appeal) in partnership with NRCS. NRCS has an extensive network in every district throughout Nepal and is recognised as the leading relief organisation in Nepal.

III. DESCRIPTION OF EMERGENCY SITUATION

Background

The emergency has arisen as a result of torrential monsoon rains from 20 July onwards which have struck a belt of central Nepal. When the scale of the flooding and landslide became apparent, LWF Nepal issued an initial Alert on 26 July. A Rapid Assessment Team comprising staff from the LWF Bhutanese Refugee project made a short visit to five of the worst affected districts and submitted a report plus photographs; a debriefing and discussion on actions to be taken was held on 2 August and an appropriate intervention strategy developed. On this basis a second Alert including a provisional budget for ACT relief assistance was sent on 2 August. An Interim Report was sent to ACT Co-ordination Office on 5 September after part of the crisis phase distribution had been completed.

Current Situation

Torrential and persistent monsoon rains over the last week of July and early August in central Nepal have caused significant damage and loss of life. According to the reports received from Nepal Red Cross Society District Chapters & Ministry of Home Affaire, the recent floods and landslides have affected approximately 301,046 persons and 49,249 families in 49 districts of the kingdom. The Nepal Red Cross Society has provided relief materials to approximately 61,224 persons of 9,419 families in more than 43 districts. In certain central districts, the intensity of rainfall has exceeded records; in the plains district of Sarlahi one day's rainfall volume exceeded 200 millimetres, the heaviest recorded in the past 200 years.

Though flood damage was very localised in the western Districts, related seasonal problems have also caused localised suffering. The high level of insecurity arising from the Maoist insurgency and security operations, the recent resettlement of former bonded labourers (Kamaiyas) whose first farming season has just commenced, together with the lack of farm work during the monsoon seasons has meant severe shortages in certain remoter parts of Kailali District. LWF Nepal staff working in the district report people suffering food deficits and forced to eat leaves (arum) from the forest. In some cases, children are consuming only rice-boiled water (soup) there are reports of sickness due to nutrition deficiency. Some adults also suffer ill health and are unable to move long distances for work. Farm work will become available by the end of September but there is currently desperation in the remote settlements.

Locations for ACT Emergency Response

Since some areas remain inaccessible, full and detailed information is still lacking. However is necessary and appropriate for ACT/LWF Nepal to intervene with relief and immediate recovery assistance, though on a modest scale in five badly affected districts, namely Sarlahi, Mahottari, Jhapa, Morang and Kailali.

Current Security Situation

Although a low-level civil war between Maoist insurgents and Government security forces has been taking place in Nepal with increasing intensity over the past 7 years, this will not significantly affect relief involvement in the targeted districts. However, landslides caused by excessive rain and flooding have caused access problems both on the main highway through the hills (which is being reopened) but also in local access to communities and villages affected by landslides. Access problems and a recent intensification in Maoist attacks (and resultant security force operations) from mid-August have also created complications.

IV. GOAL & OBJECTIVES

Goal: The overall goal is to provide basic support for survival of the displaced and homeless families worst affected by floods and seasonal hunger.

Objectives:

• To ensure that worst-affected displaced and homeless families are assisted in meeting their immediate basic food and related needs for a period of 15 days.
  
  
• To ensure that the worst-affected displaced families are assisted in re-establishing their lives and livelihoods through a recovery programme of shelter, water and sanitation assistance for a period of up to 4 months.

Number and Type of Targeted Beneficiaries

• Only rural areas will receive assistance, those deemed to have suffered the greatest degree of destruction and deprivation as a result of flood (and landslide) and seasonal hunger in the far west.
  
• An effort will be made to limit assistance to focused geographic areas (for ease of distribution and monitoring). The final selection will be made once more detailed assessment of local damage has been received
  
  
• On the basis of the above criteria, relief and recovery assistance will be extended on a family-household basis with priority to women-headed households. However since damage and vulnerability are the prime criteria, equal assistance to all family members (women, men, children). Approximately 6,000 individual flood victims will benefit from this assistance: an estimated 1,148 households in total

Criteria used in Beneficiary Selection

Immediately following the disaster, ACT/LWF Nepal sent a Rapid Response Team to the assess the situation in Sarlahi, Mahottari, Jhapa and Morang districts. Later, in early September an assessment team visited affected parts of Kailali District and based on these finding the following criteria were identified

• Rural households/families worst affected by floods, landslide and seasonal hunger/deprivation
• Worst-affected rural Village Development Committees in the selected Districts
• Households/families worst affected by flood/landslide in the selected and worst affected VDCs
• Among those families, those with greatest vulnerability (women-headed households, elderly, children)

1. Jhapa/Morang - 6 Village Development Committees - 100 families

2. Sarlahi - 7 Village Development Committees - 268 families

3. Mahottari - 15 Village Development Committees - 280 families

4. Kailali - up to 6 VDCs - 500 families (food assistance only)

Number of Targeted Beneficiaries According To Proposed Assistance

This assistance should cover an estimated 6,300 people from the 1,148 worst affected families in Sarlahi, Mahottari, Jhapa, Morang and Kailali districts.

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