August 28, Kathmandu: The Australian government has announced A$5 million in humanitarian assistance for people affected by the Rasuwa floods.
In a statement issued Friday, the Australian government said the assistance would support immediate rescue, relief and recovery efforts in flood-affected areas.
According to the Australian government, it has received reports that at least 39 Australian citizens are missing in the floods. Australian officials are working to establish their whereabouts and provide necessary assistance to affected people, the statement said.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has deployed additional staff to assist affected Australian citizens. Along with staff from the Australian Embassy in Nepal, a member of the Crisis Response Team and a regional consular officer have been deployed in Kathmandu. More regional and crisis response personnel are also being prepared for deployment.
Australia said it would send an initial team of three humanitarian specialists to Nepal within the next 48 hours. They will work with Australian personnel in Kathmandu to assess the humanitarian situation and assist with coordination, communications and relief planning.
The team, deployed under Australia’s Australia Assists program, will include specialists in humanitarian assistance and disaster management.
Where will the aid be spent?
Australia said the A$5 million assistance will be channelled through established partner organisations to provide essential services, including food, emergency shelter, clean drinking water and sanitation.
Of the total assistance, A$2 million will go to the World Food Programme (WFP). Australia said the WFP has already begun providing food and logistical support for emergency relief in Nepal.
Another A$2 million will be provided to Australian non-government organisations through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership. The funding will support emergency shelter, sanitation supplies, blankets, medical care and psychosocial assistance.
The remaining A$1 million will be provided through the Emergency Action Alliance for locally led recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Australia said immediate humanitarian assistance was needed as damaged roads and bridges have left many communities cut off from the outside world and difficult to reach.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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