The Central Disaster Relief Committee (CDRC) chaired by Home Minister Bhim Rawal has demanded Rs 750 million for disaster management in the wake of devastating floods and landslides across the country. 

A CDRC meeting on Wednesday decided to ask the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to release the amount at the earliest to address the problems caused by floods and landslides in many Tarai and mid-hill districts. 

“There is a need of adequate fund to make disaster management more effective by expediting rescue, relief and rehabilitation of affected families. At the same time, funds are also required to strengthen efforts to minimise the risks in coming days,” said Baburam Bhandari, chief of National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA). 

The death toll from floods and landslides since Monday has risen to 57 with 21 still missing in 21 districts until Wednesday, according to estimates provided by Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) on Wednesday. 

The meeting of CDRC held at NEOC on Wednesday also decided to use public shelters in safer locations to immediately relocate those displaced by floods and landslides. 

The respective district administration offices in coordination with security personnel will provide temporary tents, tin sheets and tarpaulins to the families in the places where public shelters are not available, said Bhandari. Senior citizens, children, women and people with disabilities will be given priority for shelters, he added. 

The District Disaster Relief Committees are responsible for channelising the food and non-food items from various agencies to the areas of need. In case of damaged roads, the food and non-food items will be provided to the affected families by other means of transportation, the meeting concluded. 

Similarly, the committee has directed the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation to control the risks of epidemics from unsafe water and poor hygiene in the flood-affected and inundated areas, by providing safe drinking water. 

The Ministry of Health has been directed to prepare an action plan and carry out monitoring in affected areas to control the spread of communicable diseases and provide adequate medicines and medical teams as early as possible. 

The Department of Water-Induced Disasters and Preparedness has been 

asked to come up with a work plan to construct embankments in rivers wherever necessary. 

Likewise, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development has been asked to prepare necessary mechanisms to stop the district authorities from allowing construction works along the river corridors and other vulnerable areas. 

“Coordination among all the concerned stakeholders including local authorities, communities, security agencies and development partners is crucial at this time,” said Bhandari. 

CDRC Decisions

• Public shelters in safer locations to be used to immediately relocate those displaced by floods and landslides 
• Respective district administration offices in coordination with security personnel will provide temporary tents, tin sheets 
• and tarpaulins to the families in the places where public shelters are not available
• Senior citizens, children, women and people with disabilities will be given priority for shelters 
• District Disaster Relief Committees will be responsible for channelising the food and non-food items from various agencies to the areas of need
• In case of damaged roads, the food and non-food items will be provided to the affected families by other means of transportation
• Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation will ensure safe drinking water to control the risks of epidemics from unsafe water and poor hygiene in the flood-affected and inundated areas
• Ministry of Health to prepare an action plan and carry out monitoring in affected areas to control the spread of communicable diseases and provide adequate medicines and medical teams nMinistry of Federal Affairs and Local Development to prepare necessary mechanisms to stop the district authorities from allowing construction works along the river corridors and other vulnerable areas