Nepal seeks international help for flood victims

Aug 3, 2007, 12:59 GMT

Kathmandu - The Nepalese government Friday called on the international community and donor agencies for help to deal with the devastating affects of floods across the Himalayan nation.

The call came as the death toll from three weeks of flooding brought on by heavy monsoon rains climbed to at least 85.

As the heavy rains eased in much of the country, officials began assessing the damage and began reaching out to isolated communities.

Officials also said there were growing dangers of diseases spreading in the affected areas as people were without access to clean drinking water.

At least 12 people have already died of diarrhoea and other water borne diseases.

In Kathmandu, Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan sought help from international community during a meeting with representatives of diplomatic missions and donor agencies.

The Home Ministry said at least a quarter of a million people or about 48,000 families were affected by the flooding, a fifth of them needing long term support.

'We estimate at least 60,000 people need food aid for three months,' joint secretary at the Home Ministry Pratap Kumar Pathak said. 'A long-term assistance must be sought to rehabilitate the flood victims.'

Pathak said 32 of Nepal's 75 districts had been affected by the flooding, the worst since 1994.

He said most of the destruction had been in the plains of south- eastern and western Nepal.

Meanwhile, World Food Programme (WFP) has launched an international appeal to help flood victims needing long term food assistance.

'In response to the government's request for humanitarian assistance, we are making available an initial 500,000 US dollars for procurement of immediate food assistance,' WFP Nepal Representative, Richard Ragan said.

'However, given the number of families affected and the remoteness of the impacted areas, we estimate that we will need to raise approximately 1.5 million dollars to meet the basic food requirements of the flood victims,' Ragan added.