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25th August 2014 - After heavy monsoon rains have caused devastating floods and landslides in Western Nepal last week, CARE is scaling up its emergency response for thousands of people affected. The floods have so far killed 123 people, 126 are still missing or feared to be dead and more than 50 injured. “Many people have been displaced by the floods, losing their property and belongings in the process”, says Lex Kassenberg, Country Director of CARE Nepal.” In coordination with local authorities we are trying our best to provide those affected with initial emergency relief items. But it is already clear that recovery will take a long time. Many families have lost literally everything.”
In the first few days after the floods, CARE has supported around 1,400 people in Bardiya, Banke and Surkhet. As an initial response, CARE has provided cash for food assistance and non-food items like blankets, clothes and tents. “Many families need to sleep outdoors and are exposed to rain, heat, cold and mosquitoes. There is no privacy at the moment”, says Kassenberg.
The devastation is evident; many houses are fully or partially damaged and destroyed. People are in need of food and household items along with temporary shelter materials. "The floods have broken many bridges and several roads are still blocked by fallen trees, but at least they are partly open for traffic to access hard-to-reach communities. CARE will scale up its response to reach a total of 15,300 people”, explains Kassenberg.
The relief effort is estimated to have a total budget of 1,02 Mio. US-Dollars. CARE is scaling up its response to support more than 3,000 severely affected households with sanitary cloths, soap, underwear and warm clothes for newborns. Kassenberg adds: "Arriving at the CARE field office near the affected area, the engagement and dedication of the local staff stands out. A new concern we observed is the clear trauma that people have been suffering. The challenges we have ahead of us to help these people are huge."
To find out more about CARE's work in Nepal, click here.
For further information, please contact:
Lex Kassenberg, Country Director, CARE Nepal: 9801044433, lex@np.care.org
About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE has more than six decades of experience helping people prepare for disasters, providing lifesaving assistance when a crisis hits, and helping communities recover after the emergency has passed. CARE places special focus on women and children, who are often disproportionately affected by disasters. CARE began working in Nepal in 1978. Today, CARE Nepal works with partners at multiple levels to address the causes, rather than the symptoms of poverty. Thus, its programmes are wide ranging, improving people's access to food, health, education, natural resources, safe environment, and a sustainable livelihood, enabling the poor to survive and recover from disaster, promoting peace; strengthening the ability of the poor and marginalized to exercise their rights and participate in the decisions that affects their lives. Therefore CARE Nepal is a key stakeholder in the emergency response and rehabilitation sector in Nepal. CARE Nepal has the partnership approach to implement project activities with emphasis to strengthen partners’ capacities and sustainability of response and rehabilitation services. To learn more, visit www.carenepal.org
