Kathmandu, September 3
The European Union (EU) is providing a further Rs 89 million in humanitarian aid to support communities affected by the devastating flash floods in Nepal. This brings the EU’s total emergency funding for the disaster to over Rs 445 million (EUR 2.5 million).
The new funding will support an International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) operation led by the Nepal Red Cross Society. The operation aims to assist up to 20,000 people – around 4,000 households – in Bagmati Province with emergency and transitional shelter, cash assistance, water and sanitation, healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support, protection and other essential assistance.
The funding comes as Nepal continues to respond to catastrophic flash floods that struck on 26 August, causing extensive loss of life and widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and essential services. Since that date, the Copernicus satellite service has been providing maps to support the response.
The EU is also mobilising in-kind assistance. Through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, Germany, Luxembourg, Latvia and Sweden are sending shelter and hygiene items, forensic equipment and other supplies.
Furthermore, the EU is organising a Humanitarian Air Bridge to Kathmandu. A flight with over 80 tonnes of supplies from the EU’s emergency stock in Copenhagen is scheduled to arrive later this week.
