UK-funded organisation to aid Madhes in drought resilience

Janakpur, July 27: An organisation funded by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has pledged to support the Madhes Province that presently bears the brunt of prolonged drought.     

The government had declared the Province a crisis-ridden zone last Wednesday, publicly appealing for relief and assistance there. Prior to this, the Madhes Province government had recommended the federal government for this announcement.     

Subsequently, Start Fund Nepal being operated under the UK government has, in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation, has expressed commitment to implementing the relief and aid programmes targeting the Madhes/Tarai region. According to the Secretariat of the Madhes Province, the programmes will be implemented at 10 local levels of Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Siraha and Saptari districts adversely affected by the drought. The schemes will be in place for 60 days where over 44,000 citizens of 8,355 households will be benefitted.     

There will have three-phase implementations, spending the budget of Rs 26.03 million. The supplies of water for emergency, the feasibility for digging borehole and the strengthening of irrigation system and durable water supply system will be focused during the aid programme.     

Similarly, 'cash for work' initiative under livelihood restoration efforts and the technical aid in the irrigation repair and alternative crops promotion will be prioritized under the aid programmes, according to press advisor to the Chief Minister, Awadesh Jha.(RSS)