Following the torrential rains that recently caused extensive flooding in the Mid-Western region of Nepal, the European Commission is providing €250,000 (32,293,750 NPR) to fund emergency relief for the most vulnerable families that have been affected by the natural disaster.

“This emergency relief is a gesture of European solidarity to help those who have been worst affected cope with the immediate aftermath of the devastation, said Rensje Teerink, the Ambassador of the European Union in Nepal. The funds we are providing will focus on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable individuals, particularly women, girls, and those who are socially excluded and marginalized”.

The EU funded assistance will focus on the needs of those residing in the districts of Banke, Bardiya and Surkhet, which are the worst affected at the national level. Over 6600 beneficiaries will receive temporary shelter kits as well as a range of non-food items which include clothing and bedding, cooking utensils and cooking facilities, hygiene kits, tools for construction and lighting for personal safety.

The project is being funded by the Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department of the European Commission (ECHO) through its Small Scale Response mechanism and will be implemented by CARE, and international NGO which has a long established presence in Nepal.

Following heavy rains, devastating floods swept through the mid-West and far-West regions of Nepal on 15th August 2014, leaving a trail of destruction. According to the latest available information, at least 123 people were killed, 126 are missing and 67 were injured. Overall, more than 28500 families were affected across six districts, including 6800 whose houses were completely destroyed. Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet districts were the worst affected, accounting for almost 90% of those displaced.

ECHO’s Small Scale Response fund is a global mechanism which allows ECHO to provide rapid funding of up to €300,000 for humanitarian aid in countries affected by natural and man-made disasters. Since 2001, ECHO has provided over €74 million worth of humanitarian aid to Nepal.