WFP begins food distribution to flood victims; ICRC urges agitators not to obstruct supplies

The World Food Programme (WFP) started distribution of food items to victims of flooding in the mid-western districts of Banke and Bardia from Thursday.

Hundreds of flooding victims received emergency relief package of rice, oil, lentils and salt on the first day of distribution, WFP said. Distributions in Kailali will start early next week.

“Thanks to the quick response from the donor community, and WFP’s excellent working relationship with the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS), in two weeks, we have been able to start delivering food to the most flood-affected victims in the Western Terai,” said Richard Ragan, WFP Country Representative in Nepal.

So far, the NRCS and a number of other non-governmental organisations have been working to provide "ready to eat” meals and WFP would now begin providing more complete food baskets, Ragan further said.

WFP said its initial response to provide 10,000 families (around 60,000 people) with three months of food rations was based upon the initial needs identified by the NRCS and requested by Nepal government. Since the GoN’s initial request, the number of people impacted by the floods across the country has increased to over 400,000 people and we are already in the process of appealing to donors for additional funds to cover the increased food needs of the flood victims,” stated Ragan.

Over 33 districts saw death and destruction due to flooding after days of incessant rains. Including Banke, Bardiya and Kailali, some of the most impacted districts were Mahottari, Dhanusa, Parsa, Siraha and Saptari, Rautahat, Sunsari and Morang.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Nepal has appealed agitating groups not to obstruct the delivery of relief teams to the flood victims.

Talking to Nepalnews, communication officer Adebayo Olowo-Ake said though the agitators had not directly targeted ICRC vehicles transporting humanitarian relief materials, the regular bandhs have affected the delivery process.

According to him, agitators did not allow ICRC vehicles to ply on the highway in Panchthar district in the east during a recent bandh.

A statement issued by the international humanitarian organisation said, "The ICRC calls for humanitarian assistance to be delivered without obstruction. This assistance should be distributed solely on the basis of need, independently of all political, communal and other considerations. Humanitarian actors need unrestricted access to the people in need."

The ICRC said it has been regularly visiting all the affected Terai districts and has witnessed the latent desire by many to offer assistance to those affected.

“However, humanitarian action is being hampered by high water levels, damaged infrastructure, the calling of bandhs, strikes and other interferences at the local level,” it said. nepalnews.com mk/ia Aug 16 07