Assisting communities facing multiple humanitarian crisis through flood and COVID-19

Floods in the Kankai River and other local streams of Jhapa triggered by incessant rainfall have inundated Sunthal community in Milan Basti of Jhapa Rural Municipality, Jhapa where 80 families were displaced and are residing in nearby schools. Similarly, 30 families from Sadakbari are also displaced and staying in schools and neighbors. The flooded river has breached a 300 meter long section of the embankment and had been eroding the embankment for the last four days. Community people tried to prevent the floodwaters from entering the settlement right after it started eroding the embankment by using sandbags but they couldn’t hold through the flood. In this situation, the numbers of affected families are expected to rise.

Similar situation was also identified in Salmara village of Jhapa Rural Municipality which has been equally affected by flood and displacing 21 families. The village was is need of urgent humanitarian response.

Caritas Nepal reached the location with relief support materials (Food and Hygiene items) in coordination with local government to distribute among 110 flood affected families of Milanbasti -1 & Sadakwari-2 on 23rd July 2020.
Community and stakeholder appreciated CN effort and expressed gratitude for this timely support during this multiple humanitarian crisis.
CN would like to acknowledge their handwork and commitment of our team on the ground from Damak.

“This package of 20 kg of rice, 2 kg of pulses, 1 kg of sugar, 1 kg of Nutella, 1 litre of oil, brush and toothpaste will at least help them sustain for 2 week, till then hopefully the flood might dry up for letting displaced families go back to their home.”

Devendra Pokharel, Manager of Caritas Nepal Sub Office, Damak.

In addition, the Caritas Nepal Damak branch has provided 10/10 masks, sanitizers and soap to each family affected by the disaster so that be protected from COVID-19 virus. Protection of affected family’s health is crucial since they are highly vulnerable of facing water borne diseases and COVID-19 as well.

80 families of Milan Basti were displaced and were settled temporarily in Setumari School facing challenges 30 families of Sadakbari were in critical crisis after that forceful disastrous ripples in their village swept everything towards south.

Caritas has been working actively in disaster management sector in the area by embanking the area broke by the river and our disaster risk reduction initiatives in Jhapa district has been playing significant role in mitigating potential disasters.