Plan helps families affected by Nepal flooding

Villagers move livestock to higher ground to escape the flooding in Sunsari, Nepal.

27 October 2008 – Plan Ireland has been granted €89,000 by Irish Aid to offer humanitarian assistance to families affected by severe flooding in the Sunsari District of Nepal.

Starting straight away, this project will have a particular focus on children, mothers of children under the age of five and elderly people. It is expected to last until June 2009 and some 2,000 families will benefit directly and another 27,000 people indirectly.

Thousands of people were displaced from their homes by severe flooding in September and are now living in temporary shelters and camps where conditions are very poor due to overcrowding and lack of hygiene and sanitation facilities. 

About 5,000 people in 28 camps are suffering from diseases such as pneumonia, fever, gastroenteritis, respiratory disorders, skin infections and diarrhoea.  An increasing number of children are suffering from severe malnutrition in these shelters. 

Health facilities are extremely poor, especially for pregnant women, mothers and new born babies.Thousands of children living in the shelters have no access to education or recreational activities.  This is particularly compounded for girls who also lack privacy.  Services for the elderly are also very poor.