Press release
Action Against Hunger Reaches Communities Affected by Disaster
Two weeks after the disaster that struck the Trishuli River Valley in Nepal, Action Against Hunger and its partners have launched an emergency response to support affected communities. Despite ongoing access constraints in the impacted areas, the first food aid distributions have begun.
Action Against Hunger’s emergency response will primarily target the municipalities of Rasuwa and Nuwakot, among the areas hardest hit by the disaster. The organization plans to assist nearly 15,000 people, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable groups, including displaced families, households that have lost their homes, and people living with disabilities.
The assistance package will include food distributions, access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation services, support for emergency shelter, and health, nutrition, and psychosocial support services.
“Flooding has severely disrupted access to safe drinking water. In around 50 communities, water networks and public fountains have been washed away. The immediate priority is therefore to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases, particularly cholera, which remains endemic in Nepal,” said Julien Eyrard, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Manager at Action Against Hunger. “Our teams will establish temporary water supply systems using secure upland water sources, while also deploying emergency latrines, hygiene kits and shelters for affected families.”
At the same time, Action Against Hunger teams plan to distribute emergency shelter kits to nearly 1,000 households whose homes have been destroyed or severely damaged by the floods. These kits contain essential items to help families secure safe and dignified living conditions. Mobile health clinics will also be deployed to ensure access to basic healthcare services in the most remote affected communities.
Despite the rollout of this emergency response, many areas remain inaccessible, complicating needs assessments and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
“Heavy rainfall and access constraints have forced our teams to postpone the first aid distributions. Some communities remain difficult to reach, and we fear that people may still be isolated in the hardest-hit areas,” explained Julien Eyrard.
Search and rescue efforts remain underway. With more than 1,250 fatalities and over 5,000 people still missing, these floods are among the deadliest disasters the region has experienced in recent years. An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 people have been directly affected. Nearly 2,000 households are currently displaced and have lost their livelihoods.ement touchées, dont près de 2 000 ménages sont aujourd’hui déplacés et privés de moyens de subsistance.
