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The Nepalese government has designated the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) the lead agency in the distribution of relief. More than 200 Red Cross volunteers and staff have been deployed to the flooded areas, and have already distributed food, tarpaulins, kitchen sets and blankets to families in need.
The Nepal Red Cross will use the money raised by the Federation appeal to provide emergency aid for 7,000 families in the Sunsari and Saptari areas. The British Red Cross has contributed £66,550 to the appeal to provide relief items and shelter for 1,000 households.
Emergency needs
The Saptakoshi river broke its weakened embankment on 18 August, flooding a densely populated region in Sunsari district. Approximately 70,000 people have been displaced and there are also up to 10,000 people from India currently seeking assistance in Nepal.
Pete Garratt, British Red Cross relief operations manager, said: “There is danger of further flooding, due to incessant rainfall. Homes remain underwater, crops have been destroyed and roads are impassable. Thousands of people are in need of shelter, food, drinking water and sanitation.”
As well as distributing food, NRCS volunteers are providing first aid and tracing missing people. The Red Cross and local authorities are working together to assess the damage and emergency needs. The majority of displaced people will need temporary shelter for at least six months as the embankment needs to be repaired.
Preparing for disasters
The British Red Cross has supported an NRCS programme to prepare for disasters in Nepal since 2001. The programme in Saptari, Panchthar and Ilam, involves working with the community to reduce the impact of natural hazards such as flooding and landslides.
Work carried out includes construction of flood containing walls, planting trees along riverbanks, maintenance of wells to protect water sources and construction of evacuation shelters.
The NRCS has focused on community-based projects as well as raising awareness of disaster risks at a national level.
Read about preparing for disasters
More about the Red Cross in Asia
Donations to the Disaster Fund will be used to prepare for and respond to similiar situations in the future. | 
