Rapid Response Payment Request No. 25/2008

Funds Sent To: ACT/The Lutheran World Federation, Nepal (ACT/LWF Nepal)

Amount Sent: US$ 59,222

Date: 23 September 2008

Details of Response

Emergency: Relief assistance to flood survivors, Kailali District, western Nepal

Date of Emergency: 19-22 September 2008

Implementing Member: ACT/The Lutheran World Federation, Nepal (ACT/LWF Nepal)

Implementing Partners: Direct implementation by ACT/LWF Nepal

DETAILS OF THE EMERGENCY

Floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain since Friday (19th September 2008) have left more than 33 people dead in mid- and far-western regions of Nepal. Kailali, Kanchanpur and Doti districts (far-west Nepla) have been severely affected. Floods and inundation have affected 42 Village Development Committees (VDCs) and two municipalities of Kailali district, and four VDCs and one municipality of Kanchanpur district. Out of 42 inundated VDCs in Kailali district more than one dozen VDCs of south-east Kailali have been badly affected. Similarly, flood and landslide incidents are also recorded in Doti, Dadeldhura, Dang, Bardiya, Salyan and Gulmi districts.

These current floods follow flooding in August in the eastern region of Nepal due to the breaching of the Koshi River embankment, which was also supported with ACT Rapid Response Funding (RRF21/2008).

The floods have caused significant damage to the lives, livelihoods and infrastructure. The far-western region of the country is cut off from the rest of the country due to damage of east-west national highway in many places. Many of the feeder roads and embankments were also swept away. Drinking water and electricity supplies, schools and public buildings have collapsed. Many private houses, property, domestic animals and standing corps have been washed away. According to the national news media reports, thousands of people have been directly affected and displaced.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, through a press release, made a commitment to carrying out an immediate and coordinated rescue and relief operation in the flood- and landslide- affected areas.

The Meteorology Department of the Government of Nepal has made a forecast that the far-western region will receive heavy rainfall on 22 September. Another system from the Bay of Bengal is likely to trigger floods and landslides in the mid-western region, according to ICIMOD.

ACTIONS TO DATE AND EMERGENCY NEEDS

ACT/LWF Nepal mobilized its Rapid Assessment Team in the affected area. Most parts of the inundated area are still inaccessible. Information provided in the box above is the initial update from the affected area. LWF Nepal is the only ACT member in-country.

District Disaster Relief Committee (DDRC) Chair, Kshetra Bahadur Bhandari, reported that rescue attempts have failed because of continuous rain and hostile weather. A helicopter dispatched for rescue could not land because of inundation of the site. Most of the people were seen marooned on the roofs of their houses.

Local organizations, clubs, INGOs, UN agencies and government officials have started to organize their relief operations. Because of bad weather and inaccessibility to the affected locations, rescue and relief could not be started till 21 September 2008. In the coordination meeting at Dhangadhi, the capital of Kailali district, also attended by ACT/LWF Nepal, it was confirmed that the locally available resources could not meet the immediate needs of the flood survivors. ACT/LWF Nepal were requested to provide food and non-food items.

PROPOSED EMERGENCY RESPONSE

The proposed rapid response is for meeting life saving needs of the flood survivors, especially the most vulnerable, in Kailali district of Nepal.

OBJECTIVE(S) OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

1. To respect the right to life with dignity

2. To reduce the suffering of the flood disaster survivors in Kailali district of Nepal.

TARGET POPULATION

ACT/LWF Nepal is planning to extend its humanitarian support to the flood survivors in Kailali district as it is one of the working districts of ACT/LWF Nepal. Women, children, disabled, and pregnant and lactating mothers are the prioritized groups for the RRF support response.

At this point of time, it is very difficult to estimate the actual number of people to be supported. The needs assessment is in progress. However the preliminary information indicates that a large number of people are facing acute survival needs.

PROPOSED ASSISTANCE

ACT/LWF Nepal plans to provide life-saving support to the flood survivors in Kailali district. It plans to distribute food and non-food items. The proposed assistance will be reviewed and decided based on the field needs in coordination with the DDRC and other humanitarian actors on the ground. Based on the needs and gaps, identified by a coordination committee, the proposed area of intervention and relief items may need to be redefined, and ACT/LWF Nepal assistance to be extended accordingly. Items and quantities will be finalized considering the guiding principles of SPHERE. The composition of the planned assistance is as follows:

 Distribution of wheat-soya blend (WSB) for 600 infants and lactating mothers

 Distribution of staple food to 2,885 people for 15 days

 Support for 500 families with non-food item kit

 Support for 50 persons with disability to meet their special needs

IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS

ACT/LWF Nepal will implement this RRF in close cooperation and coordination with the DDRC and the district chapter of Nepal Red Cross Society of respective districts. DDRC is the district-level disaster management focal point of the government. ACT/LWF Nepal will engage its Emergency Response Team (ERT) for RRF implementation. It will also coordinate with the Red Cross and the target population to ensure their participation—right from the time of needs assessment to the distribution of life-saving materials. If needed, a memorandum of understanding will be signed with the authorities concerned, including respective DDRC(s).

COORDINATION

Being an active member of the Disaster Preparedness Network (DP-Net), Association of INGOs in Nepal (AIN), OCHA contact group and various Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) cluster groups, ACT/LWF Nepal will implement the RRF in full co-ordination with these forums at all levels. At the national level, ACT/LWF Nepal will ensure coordination and visibility through a national-level coordination forum. At the district and field levels, ACT/LWF Nepal will ensure coordination and visibility through DDRC and various networks. These forums will be utilized to identify the gaps and overlaps. ACT/LWF Nepal will adopt a collaborative approach during this emergency response.

COMMUNICATIONS

As usual, the ACT/LWF Nepal Communication and Documentation Manager is the main communicator for the ERT as well as for communication and media coverage. ACT/LWF Nepal will ensure ACT guidelines and procedures for communication.

IMPLEMENTATION TIME TABLE

For the time table, kindly visit the ACT site. Thank you.

BUDGET: US$ 59,922.

For the detailed budget, kindly visit the ACT site. Thank you.

ACTION

The ACT Co-ordinating Office has approved the use of US$ 59,222 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish the fund. Should there be an appeal for this emergency, the RRF payment will be considered as an advance.

Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:

US dollar

Account Number - 240-432629.60A

IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Euro

Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z

IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z

Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together

UBS AG

8, rue du Rhône

P.O. Box 2600

1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND

Swift address: UBSWCHZH80A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (jkg@act-intl.org) and the Programme Officer Michelle Yonetani (myo@act-intl.org), of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.