OCHA Situation Report
Nepal: Koshi Flood
2 October 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Key Developments

- Relief efforts slowed by Strike and upcoming 'Dashain' festival
- Government distributes money for festival to flood affected families
- Government registration is completed, but actual number in need of
   assistance remains an issue
- Growing concerns over WASH gaps (Toilets ) in Spur areas
- Suspected measles case reported
- Host communities restive, demands assistance


CONTEXT

More than a month after the breach of Koshi River eastern embankment on 
18 August the East West highway still remains closed. Many displaced 
families are living along the embankment wall and in neighbouring VDCs 
of Saptari district (particularly Bhardah and Hanumanagar VDCs) that was 
not flooded. Water level in some of the affected villages have receded, 
but not to sufficient levels to enable sustainable return.

Registration and Affected Population:

According to the latest registration done by the Nepal Red Cross Society 
(NRCS) volunteers and the District Administration Office (DAO), 20,284 
individuals of Nepali origin representing 4,186 families have been 
displaced. An estimated 1900 families of Indian origin are also getting 
assistance. Data entry for the registration was done by students from 
St. Xaviers College and the District Electoral Office.

The displaced people are spread in 25 camps located along the East ?West 
highway as well as the Spur areas located in the east of Koshi Barrage, 
Sunsari District, but accessible only from Saptari District. 
Humanitarian assistance is reaching out to these groups, but the number 
of the affected population who are living in host families and who might 
equally need assistance is unknown. Request for assistance, some laced 
with threat of violence are already being received from host populations 
as well as people from fishing communities who lost livelihood 
opportunities due to the river changing its course but are not 
displaced.

There is evidence that many people have succeeded in registering more 
than once and other needy cases missed out. The registration data 
requires verification and therefore actors with the relevant expertise 
need to jointly work with the government in the verification process.

Access/ Security Constraints

Strike/Bandh called by Madhesi Mukti Tiger (MMT) and Janamorcha Nepal 
hampered the relief distribution from 27-29 September. Because of the 
three day bandh, hiring of private vehicles to transport humanitarian 
actors as well as consignments was suspended. A vehicle rented by the 
District Public Health Officer DPHO to transport health workers was set 
ablaze in Bhardaha area of Saptari district on the evening of 28 
September. OXFAM could not move to the camps and likewise, growth 
monitoring of UNICEF/CONCERN worldwide in the IDP camps was affected. 
WFP's food supply from the western part of the country was equally 
affected. However, WFP is providing food to those IDPs and district 
administration office has assured enough security to those food carrying 
convoys.

A group of people tried to vandalize Oxfam and MSF vehicles parked 
outside the Star Hotel in Rajbiraj (which is also Oxfam's field office). 
Local authorities and the police reported that these are ordinary 
criminals whose activities scale up around Dashain and promised to step 
up security.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=5891B77D353F6ADC852574D700659340&file=Full_Report.pdf

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