The European Commission is providing an additional €500,000 (62,772,855NPR) to cover the unmet humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable families that have been affected by the torrential monsoon rains that recently caused extensive flooding in the Mid-Western region of Nepal. This assistance comes in addition to an initial €250,000 which had been provided in the immediate aftermath of the floods to address the most urgent needs.

“After contributing to the most urgent relief efforts, immediately after the floods, we have decided to step up our assistance as it is now clear that the impact of these floods is to stay for long, said Rensje Teerink, the Ambassador of the European Union in Nepal, after a visit to the field in Banke district. As winter is approaching fast, this new funding will specifically aim at enabling people to better prepare against the cold weather, and at providing livelihood opportunities for the most vulnerable, so that they can start to rebuild their lives”.

While the initial assistance, channeled through CARE Nepal, had focused on providing the most vulnerable with temporary shelters, clothes for women and children, hygiene kits and water purification solutions, the additional EU funds will cover winter needs, the rehabilitation of shelters and schools, and supporting livelihood recovery activities for the most vulnerable.

According to a Press release issued by Ambar Mainali, Press & Information Officer Delegation of the European Union to Nepal, the projects will be funded by the Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department of the European Commission (ECHO).

The monsoon has been particularly destructive in Nepal this year, with more than three dozen floods and landslides reported throughout the country. According to the latest available information from Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs, a total of 265 people have been killed in landslides and floods between June and September, while another 256 are still missing. According to the Red Cross movement, monsoon-related disasters have affected over 200 000 people across the country, and displaced more than 34000.

Since 2001, ECHO has provided over €74,5 million worth of humanitarian aid to Nepal.