The International Development Secretary announced that the Department for International Development will further allocate support to the flood response in Nepal, including providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene services. As monsoon flooding and landslides affected approximately 8 million and 1.7 million people in both, Bangladesh and Nepal respectively, the DFID is allocating £400,000 to the Nepal Red Cross in partnership with British Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross.
About 75 per cent of the support is pegged for water, sanitation and hygiene, livelihood recovery, and health. International Development Secretary Priti Patel said, “The devastating flooding in South Asia is truly heart-breaking. Entire communities have lost their homes, their livelihoods and their loved ones. The UK has stepped up to support the region, our pre-positioned relief supplies ensured thousands of people received immediate support and we continue to provide assistance to vulnerable people who have lost everything.” She added that the UK will “provide clean water and prevent the spread of deadly and crippling diseases, as we continue to work to meet the immediate needs of people on the ground.”
Minister of State, Department for International Development, Alistair Burt, said, “Floods have ripped through Nepal and Bangladesh and have left a trail of devastation in their wake. Almost 8.6 million men, women and children across those two countries alone have been affected. Along with millions of people in India. UK aid is providing hope where there is darkness. We are working with the governments of both countries who are increasingly taking the lead in preparing for the impact of disasters. They are working hard to help communities protect themselves better against risks, developing early warning systems and building homes, schools, hospitals and roads that are more resilient.”
He added, “UK emergency assistance is already helping 90,000 people affected by the floods across both countries, providing clean water and sanitation, shelter, food and other essential supplies to flood victims. It is also helping to prevent secondary disasters; our humanitarian partners are working with health authorities in Nepal and Bangladesh to prevent the spread of diseases.”
The country will also continue to monitor the situation in both countries, and work with the Governments to support immediate needs and to help people and communities affected to recover once flooding has receded.
