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Nepal appeals for aid to help flood victims

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Government has appealed to the international community for humanitarian aid as the country continues to reel under monsoon rain and mudslides.

An emergency meeting of the Cabinet on Sunday released Rs 50 million for immediate relief works and appealed to the international community, donor agencies and non-government organisations for their support to help the affected families.

The Government said 59 persons had died across the country during the past one week’s deluge. Six children of a family died on Sunday when a river swept away a house in Nawalparasi district. The adult members of the family, however, swam to safety. The Government is using six helicopters to carry out rescue operations.

Compounding the havoc wreaked by the floods, the authorities are facing a new challenge with communicable diseases spreading in two districts. At least 12 persons died of diarrhoea in Salyan district and another five in Ramechhap district.

Hundreds of others have fallen sick in these districts. The Government has despatched medical teams to the two districts to check the spread of the disease.

The extent of damage caused by the week-long deluge and landslips is not known yet.

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