OCHA Situation Report No. 5
Nepal: Koshi River Floods in Sunsari and Saptari
25 August 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Kathmandu, 24 August 2008

This situation report is based on information received from the OCHA 
Office in Biratnagar, UN Agencies and humanitarian partner organisations

Situation in Sunsari and Saptari Districts, Eastern Nepal

1) Flooding: Two entire VDCs in Sunsari district, (Shree)Haripur and 
Shripur(javdi), as well as parts of Laukihi (Western part) and Paschhim 
Kushaha (wards 3, 4, 8 and 9) remain completely flooded by the Koshi 
River, after it broke out of its eastern embankment on 18 August, and has 
subsequently changed its course. Other VDCs in the area (Bhokraha, 
Madhuwan, Narshigha, Bashntapur and Dhuskighat) have experienced some 
limited flooding and are hosting displaced people. Saptari District has 
not been flooded as such, but has seen an influx of displaced people from 
Sunsari district, in particular to Bhadaha and Hanumannagar.

2) The flooding also extends beyond the Indian border and has caused 
significant damages and human suffering there.

3)The East West highway remains impassable, as it has been broken at three 
points at least and is covered by the river waters, and may take 
considerable time to repair. The Koshi and Mechi Zones thus remain 
disconnected from Nepal's road network. The alternative route through 
Bathanaha-Birpur-Bahantabari in Bihar, India, has also reportedly become 
impassable thus lengthening the land route detour considerably. The NTC 
phone service is restored as of 21 August, but has been intermittent and 
difficulties should be anticipated for some days. The mero mobile network 
is working, while the CDMA service is not.

4) Displacement: The Government (MoHA) estimates that at least 70,000 
people are affected by the flooding in the area, and 7,000 families are 
displaced. The Nepal Red Cross Society (MRCS) reports a number of 54,000 
affected persons as of 24 August. Most of the displaced are poor farmers 
or land labourers, many of them Maithili speakers. In addition to the 
persons displaced from VDCs in Sunsari District, the number of flood 
displaced persons from India has been reported to be considerable. Figures 
are yet to be ascertained.

5) The rescue operation using helicopters, and more than 20 boats and also 
elephants continues, mainly through the DDRC as well as Koshi Victim 
Society (KVS) in Saptari. People are still being rescued from their 
inundated houses five days after the floods waters broke into the area. 
Some may have hesitated to leave their properties or may have been scared 
of helicopter rides.

6) There is as of yet no official report about human casualties or missing 
persons. Media reports indicate that 4 to 6 people may have been killed. 
Reports of 27 bodies found in India could not yet be confirmed.

7) A large section of the displaced persons have been brought to or have 
otherwise found their way to the approximately 27 shelters which have been 
established in Sunsari and Saptari districts. Precise numbers are 
difficult to come by, as the population fluctuates, and as not all 
shelters/camps are officially designated or registered. As of 24 August 
there were roughly 14,200 people in shelters in Inaruwa, the District HQ 
of Sunsari, and other VDCs of Sunsari as well as in shelters in Saptari 
district.

8) Around 10-15,0oo displaced people from Paschhim Kushaha, Haripur and 
Shripurjavdi in the western part of Sunsari (i.e. those cut off from 
Inaruwa due to the interruption of the highway) have been most difficult 
to rescue and to reach by Sunsari authorities and relief agencies based in 
Inaruwa. They can only be accessed by air or by road over the Koshi 
barrage from Saptari.

9) Among those displaced and sheltering on higher ground are also people 
who fled from the Indian VDCs Birpur, Bhimnagar and Ranigunj. There are no 
such elevated locations as the Koshi barrage and dams in nearby VDCs 
across the Indian border. Many are also assumed to have moved on across 
the Koshi barrage to Saptari district.

10) A full repair of the East West Highway and of the breached eastern 
embankment of the Koshi River is not likely to be completed until the end 
of the monsoon season. The Government currently operates with a planning 
horizon of 4 months for return of the displaced to their properties. 
Notably, even if the water should return to its pre-flooding course and 
levels, the damages caused to properties and livelihoods (crops, 
livestocks, tools, etc.) amount to a significant need in terms of 
reconstruction and rehabilitation. As the upgrading/repair of the Koshi 
River barrage and embankment system, built in the 1950s, had been an issue 
of intense debate for a number of years, the discussion about a lasting 
solution to the recurring flooding by the Koshi River in the area is 
likely to run in parallel with the relief and rehabilitation efforts.

11) The Nepali Government has established contact with an Indian team of 
experts in order to look into repairing the embankment. Work in this 
respect in expected to start in the coming days.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docidi8B35FC291668B3492574B00003673A&file=Full_Report.pdf

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
.  Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
.                              guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -