EU provides additional Rs89 million in aid for Nepal flood victims
The new funding will support up to 20,000 people in Bagmati Province with shelter, cash assistance, healthcare, water and sanitation services, and other emergency aid. A woman inspects a damaged house after flash floods and a mudslide, at Devighat, Nuwakot district, Nepal, August 31. Reuters
The European Union has announced an additional Rs89 million in humanitarian assistance for communities affected by the devastating flash floods, bringing its total emergency funding for the disaster to more than Rs445 million.
The latest funding will support a Disaster Response Emergency Fund operation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, led by the Nepal Red Cross Society.
The operation aims to assist up to 20,000 people, or around 4,000 households, in Bagmati Province with emergency and transitional shelter, cash assistance, water and sanitation services, healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support, protection and other essential aid.
The EU said the additional assistance comes as Nepal continues to respond to the catastrophic floods, which caused extensive loss of life and widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and essential services.
Since the floods struck, the EU’s Copernicus satellite service has been providing maps to support disaster response and recovery efforts.
The EU said it is also mobilising relief supplies through its Civil Protection Mechanism. Germany, Luxembourg, Latvia and Sweden are sending shelter and hygiene items, forensic equipment and other supplies to Nepal.
In addition, the EU is organising a Humanitarian Air Bridge to Kathmandu. A flight carrying more than 80 tonnes of supplies from the EU’s emergency stock in Copenhagen is scheduled to arrive later this week.
The EU and its member states are among the world’s leading humanitarian aid donors. The bloc said its relief assistance is aimed at saving lives, preventing and alleviating human suffering, and safeguarding the dignity of people affected by disasters and crises.
The European Commission has also signed a €16 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the IFRC to support its Disaster Response Emergency Fund.
Established in 1979, the DREF provides immediate financial assistance to national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies responding to disasters. The fund is supported by contributions from donors and can be replenished as grants are allocated to emergency operations.
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