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More than 18,000 households face landslide threat
As many as 18,287 households in 14 district most affected the earthquake last year are living under high landslide hazard risks, according to the findings of an assessment.As many as 18,287 households in 14 district most affected the earthquake last year are living under high landslide hazard risks, according to the findings of an assessment.
The Monsoon Preparedness Assessment 2016 carried out by Shelter Cluster Nepal, a coordinating humanitarian shelter, working with more than 120 relief agencies and co-led by the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC) has found that 46,894 households living below the poverty line in temporary shelters or collective sites are most likely to need assistance in the event of monsoon impacts on the 14 earthquake affected districts.
“Poorer families are particularly likely to be living in low quality shelters that are unable to withstand heavy winds, and generally lack access to land that is safe from landslide and flooding,” says the report.
Sindhupalchok has the highest number of households at 5,267 that are at high risk of landslide hazard followed by Dhading (3,585), Gorkha (2,814), Kavre (2,409), Makawanpur (1,152) and Rasuwa (1,039).
In addition, 28,608 households in the 14 districts have been listed as “under moderate risk to landslide hazards” after earthquake, with Sindhupalchok having the highest number of households under this category at 7,565.
The April earthquake last year triggered more than 4,000 landslides in earthquake-affected and adjoining districts.
Monsoon last year, just two months after the devastating earthquake, was considered “less heavy than usual”, hence some areas considered to be at high risk of landslides were not affected that hugely.
Govt releases Rs 750m for disaster management
The government on Monday decided to release Rs 750 million to the Central Disaster Relief Committee (CDRC) for disaster management.
The CDRC under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) on Wednesday demanded the amount to carry out relief and rescue operations in the wake of havoc caused by flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains across the country.
At least 102 people have died in over three months from floods and landslides in 42 districts, according to MoHA. Pyuthan district has been hit the hardest with 31 deaths so far.
Minister for Home Affairs Bhim Rawal on Monday told Parliament that the ministry is in on alert to carry out relief and rescue operations.
Minister Rawal also updated the House about the death toll, destructions caused by flooding and landslides and the measures government has been taking to deal with the disaster.