KATHMANDU, Oct 7: The Nepal Red Cross Society will provide cash assistance to families affected by the Bhotekoshi flood, with each eligible household receiving Rs 100,000.
Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General and CEO of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, announced the assistance during a visit to flood-affected areas last week.
The aid will be distributed through the “Samunnati Program,” implemented by the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities, and Social Security. The ministry and the Nepal Red Cross signed an agreement on Tuesday to implement the initiative.
Acting Secretary Chakra Bahadur Budha and Nepal Red Cross President Dr Bishal Kumar Bhandari signed the agreement in the presence of Minister Sita Badi. Nepal Red Cross Secretary General Rishi Raman Khanal and IFRC Nepal chief David Fisher were also present.
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Under the agreement, the Red Cross will provide Rs 100,000 each to eligible families affected by the Rasuwa Bhotekoshi flood across 63 districts.
Khanal said preliminary estimates suggest nearly 6,000 families have been affected. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority will provide data on affected households, which will be verified before beneficiaries are selected.
The money will be deposited directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts to make distribution transparent and efficient. Families will be free to use the assistance according to their priorities, including food, clothing, health and sanitation, essential household supplies, transportation, communication and livelihoods.
Priority will be given to particularly vulnerable households, including those headed by women, people with disabilities, children requiring special care, senior citizens, marginalized communities, gender and sexual minorities, and families with other special needs.
The ministry will provide policy guidance, monitoring and coordination, while local governments will assist with beneficiary identification and verification. The Nepal Red Cross will oversee cash and voucher assistance, community coordination, monitoring and accountability.
The Red Cross has also reviewed its humanitarian response to the Rasuwa Bhotekoshi flood and said relief operations launched immediately after the disaster are continuing.
IFRC Nepal chief Fisher praised Red Cross volunteers for their response and said financial support was being received following the IFRC’s appeal for flood relief.
International Committee of the Red Cross Nepal chief Sandesh Shrestha said the organization had worked with the Nepal Red Cross to provide body bags and assist families searching for missing relatives.
The Red Cross has prepared an immediate three-month response plan covering multipurpose cash assistance, shelter, water and sanitation, mental health, community engagement, protection, gender issues and social inclusion.
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