Floods in Nepal
Welthungerhilfe supports vulnerable people in remote villages
After days of heavy rainfalls, more than 16 million people in India, Bangladesh and Nepal are affected by the floods. In Nepal alone, one-third of the country is under water and many fields, bridges and roads have been completely destroyed. Welthungerhilfe is supporting nearly 75,000 people in Nepal who have lost their entire livelihoods after the monsoon rains. Together with local partner organisations, employees are distributing parcels with food and hygiene articles such as soap, mosquito nets and water containers. The people are living in the worst-affected districts of Rautahat and Saptari. As the access to many villages is difficult, aid workers have only now been able to reach the suffering population.
We have seen the worst rainfalls for 60 years. The poorest are the most affected again.
reported Welthungerhilfe country director Asja Hanano“We have seen the worst rainfalls for 60 years,” reported Welthungerhilfe country director, Asja Hanano from the capital Kathmandu. “The poorest are the most affected again”. The flooded areas were already seeing hunger and many undernourished children. Clean drinking water and toilets are limited and the families live from agriculture. Our assistance in cooperation with other European Alliance2015 partners is currently focused on rapid survival assistance after the disaster. “We hope, however, that we will also be able to help families with the reconstruction, once the waters have receded,” says Asja Hanano.
The south of Nepal, which is particularly affected by the flooding, is part of the breadbasket of the country. According to first estimates, 80 percent of the harvest has been destroyed by the floods. Welthungerhilfe will use its future assistance to strengthen agriculture in particular, in order to combat hunger.
Welthungerhilfe is one of the largest private aid organisations in Germany; politically independent and non-denominational. It is fighting for ‘Zero Hunger by 2030’. Since its establishment, more than 8,500 overseas projects in 70 countries have been supported with 3.27 billion euros. Welthungerhilfe works on the basic principle of help for self-help: from rapid disaster relief to reconstruction and long-term development cooperation projects with national and international partner organisations.
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