Responding to Monsoon Mayhem in Kailali
Nepal has been grappling with the devastating consequences of monsoon rain that triggered flooding in various parts of the nation.
The country experienced incessant downpour on August 8 and 9, affecting the lives of several thousand people. The Government of Nepal’s initial rapid assessment report paints a grim picture, estimating the number of flood-impacted households to be above 4,000. The floodwaters have resulted in the displacement of several families as the rising water level inundated villages and towns.
Every year, the monsoon season, stretching from June till September, brings heavy rain and poses a significant challenge to Nepal’s infrastructure and the communities situated in vulnerable areas. According to the data from Ministry of Home Affairs, the incidents of rainfall have claimed 47 lives since the onset of monsoon on June 14 this year.
Kailali of Sudurpachhim Province in the far-west is one of the highly impacted districts among World Vision’s working areas. The floods in Sudurpaschim have claimed the life of one person and displaced 565 houses, while 3,365 households have been affected.
In response to the growing aftermath of the situation in Kailali, World Vision International (WVI) Nepal partnered with Welfare Association for Children Tikapur (WACT) and Digo Bikas Samaj (DBS) to carry out emergency relief distribution on 13 August 2023 in Bhajani and Tikapur Municipality in coordination with respective local governments.
61 displaced households of ward number 3 in Bhajani Municipality were supported with 25 kg rice, 2 kg salt, 3 kg pulses and 1-liter oil for each household. The floods have left many houses either partially or completely damaged, leaving the families with no option but to avert the area and relocate to the postal highway of Bhajani Municipality. Relief items were also distributed to six households affected by the flood in ward number 6 and 7 of Tikapur Municipality.
Likewise, nine displaced households from ward number 3 and 8 of Bhajani Municipality residing in a safe house were also distributed with emergency relief support including essential food items (rice, salt, pulse and oil). A total of 44 people from nine households finding alternative shelter in the safe house include 12 pregnant women and 32 adolescents including children. The safe house, operated by Bhajani Municipality and Women's Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC), provides temporary shelter during emergencies.
A local from ward number 3 of Bhajani Municipality, whose house succumbed to the floodwater, was compelled to reside under the open sky with his children for more than four days. “We were running out of food as our house was already flooded with water. I am grateful that we will now be able to feed our children with this food support which will sustain us for more than two weeks”, the recipient shared.
As the search and rescue operation continues to unfold, the exact data and information of the children, people with disability, and infrastructure wreckage are yet to be disseminated. World Vision continues to monitor the situation in other working areas as the monsoon is predicted to remain active for a couple more days.