Nepal and China: Enormous humanitarian needs in disaster-affected areas

The flooding occurred after a glacier in the Himalayas collapsed, setting huge volumes of water in motion. Massive debris flows swept through the valleys and destroyed many villages. The districts of Rasuwa and Nuwakot in Nepal, and Tibet in China, have been hardest hit.

Authorities in both China and Nepal say global warming is the cause of the disaster. Norway is contributing NOK 10 million from the reserve for flood response. These are funds allocated at the start of the year and can be used where needs are greatest.

– When a crisis strikes, the first hours and days are critical. That is why the funds must be flexible so that assistance can get under way as quickly as possible, says Martin Samuelsen, Head of Section for Humanitarian Assistance at Norad.

More than 1,250 people have been confirmed dead and around 5,600 are missing. The flood wave came very suddenly and destroyed buildings, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities and other vital infrastructure. This has made the relief effort extremely challenging.

International response

The relief operation in Nepal is being led by the Nepalese authorities (NDRRMA), in cooperation with the UN, the Nepal Red Cross/IFRC and international organisations.

Norway’s support from the humanitarian reserve will go to:

• IFRC’s emergency appeal for the floods in Nepal – NOK 5 million
  • The funds channelled through the Nepal Red Cross will support shelter, cash assistance, health services, emergency household items, water, sanitation and hygiene, mental health care and psychosocial support, and restoring family links.
• IOM’s shelter and temporary housing response in Nepal – NOK 5 million
  • IOM is actively involved in the relief effort led by the Nepalese authorities. The Norwegian contribution will support shelter and cash assistance for displaced people and other flood-affected households in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading. IOM is the UN’s International Organization for Migration.

Major needs

According to the UN, around 84,000 people are in acute need of clean water and adequate sanitation.

More than 32,000 children are in need of protection following the disaster.

On the Chinese side, the authorities are leading the response. The UN office in China stands ready to assist, but no international humanitarian actors are working directly in the affected areas on the Chinese side.

Norway is supporting the response through the international emergency funds of the Red Cross (DREF) and the UN (CERF), in addition to NOK 10 million from the humanitarian reserve. These mechanisms are designed to enable rapid action when disasters strike.

• DREF has allocated 1 million Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately NOK 11.6 million.
• CERF has allocated USD 2.5 million, equivalent to approximately NOK 23.3 million.

Norway is one of the largest contributors to DREF and provides around seven per cent of its funding. Norway is also one of the largest donors to CERF and finances around ten per cent of the fund.

Vulnerable communities

Norad has not previously earmarked humanitarian funding for Nepal. However, Nepal is a country with widespread poverty, major geographical disparities, and high vulnerability to natural disasters linked to the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas.

Many local communities, particularly in mountain areas, lack basic services and infrastructure even under normal conditions. When a disaster like this strikes, needs can therefore escalate rapidly.

Save the Children is present in Nepal and receives Norwegian support. The organisation is engaged in both long-term development efforts and humanitarian work, and is among those helping to coordinate the relief effort.

According to the UN, 29 schools have been affected or destroyed by the flooding. Around 19,000 pupils from schools in the flood-affected areas are facing an indefinite interruption to their education. The need for psychological follow-up is substantial.