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WFP to feed 170,000 people displaced by floods in western Nepal

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Nepal is mobilising emergency food assistance for up to 170,000 people displaced by severe flooding in the west of the country, says a press release issued by the WFP.

WFP's Emergency Operation (EMOP) has a budget of US $2.5 million and will provide the needy with a mixed-commodity basket: rice, lentils, vegetable oil and salt. Assisting WFP will be its distribution partners, the Nepal Red Cross and local non-government organisations.

"This latest spate of flooding in Nepal has inundated eight districts in the Mid- and Far-West. Worst hit are three districts in the western Terai: Kanchanpur, Kailali and Bardiya. The Government of Nepal (GoN) and the Nepal Red Cross have put the death toll at about 30 with the same number missing," says the release.

"The GoN's initial request was for WFP to feed 50,000 people but an ongoing inter-agency rapid assessment indicates that the number of people affected could be as high as 170,000."

"The Government response thus far has been very effective, with the Nepal Army, Police, Red Cross and local authorities providing heroic and life-saving assistance to western Nepal's flood-affected population," said WFP Nepal's Country Representative, Richard Ragan.

"Many of these people are still recovering from severe floods last year, as well as from the effects of the recently-ended civil war," said Ragan. "In addition, they are having to deal with rising fuel and food prices. But we recognise the severity of the situation and are moving fast to meet the needs of the Mid- and Far-West."

WFP is also providing relief supplies to some 70,000 people in Nepal's Eastern Region who were displaced when the River Koshi burst its banks last month, inundating huge swathes of land on either side of Nepal's eastern border with India.

The flooding in the west of Nepal has been caused by unseasonably late and heavy monsoon rains which have been pounding much of the South Asia region. nepalnews.com Sep 26 08