NEPAL FLOOD DISASTER July 2002
Nepal experienced its worst natural disaster due to floods and landslides in several decades when monsoon rains came pouring down in July.The heavy rains have caused havoc in many parts of the country. The peak water level was the highest in many rivers, even higher than the designed water level, causing destruction of barrages, roads, bridges, embarkments, etc. From Kathmandu right through to other vast areas in Terai Plain, many people's lives and villages were badly affected. Some lost their land while others' family members. Thousands are now rendered homeless, their houses destroyed by the twisted power of nature.
In view of the frequency and perennial nature of disasters in Nepal, the seriousness of the impact of disasters on its social and economic development in not less than that of any other disaster prone country. These natural disasters have profound impacts on environment and development.
The United Nations Resolution on IDNDR (International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction – 1990-2000) says, in particular, that the effect of natural disasters may severely damage the fragile economic infrastructure of developing countries, especially the least developed landlocked and island counties, and thus hamper their development. Nepal, one of such countries, suffers greatly from natural disasters. Thus, Nepal really merits the positive support of the international community, in the spirit of IDNDR.
Nepal experienced its worst natural disaster due to floods and landslides in several decades when monsoon rains came pouring down in July. Heavy rains have continued intermittently from July through to August. The heavy rains have caused havoc in many parts of the country. The peak water level was the highest in many rivers, even higher than the designed water level, causing destruction of barrages, roads, bridges, embarkments, etc. From Kathmandu right through to other vast areas in Terai Plain, many people lives and villages were badly affected. Some lost their land while others family members. Thousands are now homeless, their houses destroyed by the twisted power of nature.
The heavy monsoon rains accompanied by floods and landslides that occurred in the last few weeks have killed 435 people and have affected 270,627 people. Experts today said that this is the greatest disaster that occurred after the 1950’s. The Statistical Disaster Situation Report, prepared by the Nepal Red Cross Society during the period of July 15–August 12 states that the disaster has left more than 32,000 people homeless.
However, the report also underlines the fate of hundreds whose whereabouts are unknown as yet. The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) estimates that about 173 are still missing. The flood and landslide has affected families in 47 districts of Nepal and NRCS expressed regret that not all the remote and forlorn districts could be reached for relief works and aid packages. In Gorkha, Myagdi, Tanahu, Gulmi, Dailekh, Sankhuwasava, Solukhumbu, Dolakha and Jajarkot the relief materials could not be delivered.
The NRCS, battling the flood and natural disaster said it needs at least 1.77 million dollars more to assist 130,000 people with critical need for food, shelter, blankets, clothing and water purifiers. It further said that if timely action is not taken many people will suffer from malnutrition and will likely be infested with water-borne diseases (amoeba, giardiasis, diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, etc) and malaria.
Officials of the NRCS said that the appeal will provide equipment for NRCS volunteers to continue assessment and rescue missions for this and future disasters as well as building materials to 200 of the most vulnerable homeless families in the mountainous regions. so far 41,000 families have been affected in over 47 districts. District-wise, the death toll has been recorded highest in Makwanpur with 130 people dead, 50 people in Khotang, 46 in Kathmandu, followed by Taplejung, Chitwan and Kavre.
Many villages in mountain areas were seriously damaged by debris flows and landslides. Makwanpur District is on the most affected districts in Nepal. In Sarlahi District, floods rushed into the district both from the Bagmati in the west and from the main irrigation canal in the north, mainly following old river courses. With no effective prevention works, floods could easily penetrate far into the district. Even if the people had been warned, the casualties might not be much less in such a flat land with no places for evacuation. As a detail of the huge economic loss due to recent floods is collected, it is clear that most of Nepal’s development money will be diverted to reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Lessons we have learnt from the recent floods are:
(1) A lot of people who died were living in flood prone areas with no protection. Rural villages were hit by very high-velocity water, debris flows and landslides causing damage to livestock, crops and property. Identification of high risk regions (flood risk maps) and dissemination of information to the public (awareness campaigns) are necessary.
(2) Most people died in the down-stream areas of major rivers. They had not been aware of the danger because rain was heavy upstream but light downstream. Improved flood forecasting, monitoring and warning system are a necessity.
(3) Massive landslides and erosions caused major destructive damages to infrastructure. Observation network, data management, soil management and watershed management systems should be given more attention. Preventive measures including better structural engineering practices (major civil works, disaster-resistance buildings, dams, embarkments, etc) and non-structural policy interventions (local and national planning including land-use) help a lot in terms of reducing loss of life, and damage to physical property and infrastructures.
(4) After the onslaught of flood, affected areas lacked early intervention measures, rapid response strategy, and rapid recovery process. Swift coordinated effort between governmental and non-governmental organisations is necessary to modify, alter, suppress or to mitigate the damaging effects of natural disaster depending on their nature and locations. Deficient communication links resulted in delay of relief operation. The communication network should be expanded to cover up to the village level.
(5) There should be an effective and successful national plan to cover all aspects of disaster management.
The July disaster was an unprecedented one in Nepal. No one has ever seen such a devastation nor had been involved in such a massive relief operation. Under concerted efforts from the government agencies, non-governmental organisations and local people and with the generous assistance from the international community, the emergency phase is being initiated and recovery should be underway soon.
The reconstruction phase will be soon started but Nepal being a small country with limited resources, the social and economic development will be greatly hampered and a set back inevitable, especially without substantial assistance from foreign donors.
The recent floods have high-lighted the urgent need for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the displaced people. There should be a continuous and consistent effort on this, based on present experiences and lessons.
In view of the frequency and perennial nature of disasters in Nepal, the seriousness of the impact of disasters on its social and economic development in not less than that of any other disaster prone country. These natural disasters have profound impacts on environment and development.
The United Nations Resolution on IDNDR (International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction – 1990-2000) says, in particular, that the effect of natural disasters may severely damage the fragile economic infrastructure of developing countries, especially the least developed landlocked and island counties, and thus hamper their development. Nepal, one of such countries, suffers greatly from natural disasters. Thus, Nepal really merits the positive support of the international community, in the spirit of IDNDR.
Nepal experienced its worst natural disaster due to floods and landslides in several decades when monsoon rains came pouring down in July. Heavy rains have continued intermittently from July through to August. The heavy rains have caused havoc in many parts of the country. The peak water level was the highest in many rivers, even higher than the designed water level, causing destruction of barrages, roads, bridges, embarkments, etc. From Kathmandu right through to other vast areas in Terai Plain, many people lives and villages were badly affected. Some lost their land while others family members. Thousands are now homeless, their houses destroyed by the twisted power of nature.
The heavy monsoon rains accompanied by floods and landslides that occurred in the last few weeks have killed 435 people and have affected 270,627 people. Experts today said that this is the greatest disaster that occurred after the 1950’s. The Statistical Disaster Situation Report, prepared by the Nepal Red Cross Society during the period of July 15–August 12 states that the disaster has left more than 32,000 people homeless.
However, the report also underlines the fate of hundreds whose whereabouts are unknown as yet. The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) estimates that about 173 are still missing. The flood and landslide has affected families in 47 districts of Nepal and NRCS expressed regret that not all the remote and forlorn districts could be reached for relief works and aid packages. In Gorkha, Myagdi, Tanahu, Gulmi, Dailekh, Sankhuwasava, Solukhumbu, Dolakha and Jajarkot the relief materials could not be delivered.
The NRCS, battling the flood and natural disaster said it needs at least 1.77 million dollars more to assist 130,000 people with critical need for food, shelter, blankets, clothing and water purifiers. It further said that if timely action is not taken many people will suffer from malnutrition and will likely be infested with water-borne diseases (amoeba, giardiasis, diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, etc) and malaria.
Officials of the NRCS said that the appeal will provide equipment for NRCS volunteers to continue assessment and rescue missions for this and future disasters as well as building materials to 200 of the most vulnerable homeless families in the mountainous regions. so far 41,000 families have been affected in over 47 districts. District-wise, the death toll has been recorded highest in Makwanpur with 130 people dead, 50 people in Khotang, 46 in Kathmandu, followed by Taplejung, Chitwan and Kavre.
Many villages in mountain areas were seriously damaged by debris flows and landslides. Makwanpur District is on the most affected districts in Nepal. In Sarlahi District, floods rushed into the district both from the Bagmati in the west and from the main irrigation canal in the north, mainly following old river courses. With no effective prevention works, floods could easily penetrate far into the district. Even if the people had been warned, the casualties might not be much less in such a flat land with no places for evacuation. As a detail of the huge economic loss due to recent floods is collected, it is clear that most of Nepal’s development money will be diverted to reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Lessons we have learnt from the recent floods are:
(1) A lot of people who died were living in flood prone areas with no protection. Rural villages were hit by very high-velocity water, debris flows and landslides causing damage to livestock, crops and property. Identification of high risk regions (flood risk maps) and dissemination of information to the public (awareness campaigns) are necessary.
(2) Most people died in the down-stream areas of major rivers. They had not been aware of the danger because rain was heavy upstream but light downstream. Improved flood forecasting, monitoring and warning system are a necessity.
(3) Massive landslides and erosions caused major destructive damages to infrastructure. Observation network, data management, soil management and watershed management systems should be given more attention. Preventive measures including better structural engineering practices (major civil works, disaster-resistance buildings, dams, embarkments, etc) and non-structural policy interventions (local and national planning including land-use) help a lot in terms of reducing loss of life, and damage to physical property and infrastructures.
(4) After the onslaught of flood, affected areas lacked early intervention measures, rapid response strategy, and rapid recovery process. Swift coordinated effort between governmental and non-governmental organisations is necessary to modify, alter, suppress or to mitigate the damaging effects of natural disaster depending on their nature and locations. Deficient communication links resulted in delay of relief operation. The communication network should be expanded to cover up to the village level.
(5) There should be an effective and successful national plan to cover all aspects of disaster management.
The July disaster was an unprecedented one in Nepal. No one has ever seen such a devastation nor had been involved in such a massive relief operation. Under concerted efforts from the government agencies, non-governmental organisations and local people and with the generous assistance from the international community, the emergency phase is being initiated and recovery should be underway soon.
The reconstruction phase will be soon started but Nepal being a small country with limited resources, the social and economic development will be greatly hampered and a set back inevitable, especially without substantial assistance from foreign donors.
The recent floods have high-lighted the urgent need for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the displaced people. There should be a continuous and consistent effort on this, based on present experiences and lessons.
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