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Nepal

Humanitarian Action for Children 2017 - Nepal

Attachments

  • Total affected population: 1.7 million
  • Total affected children (<18 years): 680,000
  • Number of people to be reached in 2017: 400,000
  • Number of children to be reached in 2017: 160,000

Nepal

In mid August Nepal experienced the heaviest recorded rainfall in the central and western regions in the last 60 years, resulting in significant flooding in the Terai region, and several landslides in the Hill areas, impacting lives, livelihoods and infrastructure across 36 of the country’s 75 districts. A total of 160 people have died, 46 were injured, 352,738 have been displaced, and 29 are still missing1. An estimated 1.7 million people2 (including 680,000 children) have been affected, the majority of whom are concentrated in 10 districts, and include already vulnerable and marginalised groups. In addition, over 250,000 houses and nearly 2,000 schools and have been damaged or destroyed, affecting the education of over 250,000 children. The devastation has left people in the affected areas with little food and limited access to water and sanitation, health, nutrition, education and protection-related services. While flood waters have receded, residual damage to roads and bridges still inhibits access to some remote villages, posing challenges for the delivery of relief supplies. Further monsoon rains are expected as the season continues until the end of September.

Humanitarian Strategy

To address the immediate needs of the flood-affected communities, the UN Humanitarian Country Team (UNHCT) has issued a Joint Response Plan (JRP) covering a period of six months to meet the ongoing response and recovery needs of the affected communities. As part of the plan, UNICEF will distribute hygiene kits and oral rehydration salts (ORS) to address immediate water and sanitation needs. Immunization activities will be intensified as part of a health initiative to limit infection and the spread of diseases, in affected districts. To address nutrition needs UNICEF will distribute therapeutic food for severely malnourished children, whilst promoting breastfeeding practices during Infant and Young Child Feeding counselling. As schools, which were previously used as shelters resume normal function, school supplies for children, including recreational and early childhood development kits, will be distributed. UNICEF will also support the disbursement of emergency cash transfers to vulnerable communities. To facilitate access to these essential services, UNICEF will operate through its three field offices in Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Neplagunj Municipalities – all located in Terai – to launch immediate relief efforts, scale up existing activities, and simultaneously support early recovery. UNICEF is the co-lead for WASH, Education and Nutrition Clusters along with the respective government ministries, and is an active member of the Health Cluster. UNICEF also co-leads the Protection Cluster with UNFPA and the Child Protection Area of Responsibility.

Results since August 2017

UNICEF has been working closely with the government and partners to provide flood- affected populations with access to safe drinking water and sanitation; health and nutritional services; education services; protection services and psychosocial assistance. To date, 2,212 children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) have been identified and are undergoing treatment through an Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) Programme in nine districts through 11 Nutrition Rehabilitation Homes. UNICEF has already commenced the distribution of pre-positioned contingency supplies for WASH, Health, Nutrition, Education and Child protection. So far this has included: 1,199,000 Aqua tabs, 21,620 water purifying chlorine tablets, 614 water flocculation tablets, 7,865 buckets, 28,000 long-lasting insecticide treated nets, 8,010 hygiene kits, 2,590 blankets, 460 newborn kits, 5,815 tarpaulins, 3,350 ORS and zinc tablets and education supplies in small amounts. Messages on safety during flood and landslides have been aired through 162 radio stations across 22 affected districts in Nepali as well as local languages of the affected areas. Public service announcements on the prevention of trafficking, psychosocial support, gender-based violence and child protection have also been aired in 18 districts.

Funding requirements

UNICEF is in need of US$13.55 million to meet the needs of children (until end December 2017) affected by the recent floods and landslides in 18 of the most-affected districts in Nepal. Without additional funding, UNICEF will be unable to provide substantial support at this critical juncture for relief and early recovery of vulnerable children and their families.