Floods affect 16 mn in Nepal, B’desh and India, says Red Cross

KATHMANDU: A humanitarian crisis is unfolding across large areas of South Asia, with more than 16 million people affected by monsoon flood sin Nepal, Bangladesh and India, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in statement in Kathmandu on Friday.

“This is fast becoming one of the most serious humanitarian crises this region has seen in many years and urgent action is needed to meet the growing needs of millions of people affected by these devastating floods,” said Martin Faller, deputy regional director for Asia Pacific, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IF RC ).“Millions of people across Nepal, Bangladesh and India face severe food shortage sand disease caused by polluted flood waters ,” he said.

Flood levels have already reached record highs in Bangladesh, according to local authorities. Flooding of major rivers such as the Jamuna has surpassed levels since 1988 — the deadliest floods Bangladeshever faced. “More than one-third of Bangladesh and Nepal have been flooded and we fear the humanitarian crisis will get worse in the days and weeks ahead,” Faller said.

In Nepal, many areas remain cut off after the most recent floods and landslides on August 11 and 12. Village sand communities are stranded without food, water and electricity.

“This tragic flooding in Nepal has claimed at least 128 lives and 33 people are still missing,” said Dev Ratna Dhakhwa, secretary general of the Nepal Red Cross Society.

Red Cross is providing aid to people, including tarpaulins for temporary shelter, food and water.

Food crops have been wiped out by the flood sin Nepal’ s major farming and agricultural land sin the south of the country. India's meteorological department is forecasting more heavy rain in the coming days.