AIN Nepal active to help address drought in Madhesh

 Janakpur, July 29: After the government declared Madhesh a drought-hit zone, the Association of International NGOs (AIN) in Nepal has speed up its regular intiatives along with dedicated programmes in the province. 

They are responding to the drought-affected areas in Madhesh through their local partner organizations in coordination and cooperation with the WASH Cluster’, District Disaster Management Committee and local levels, said Pramil Adhikari, liaison officer of the AIN in Madhesh Province.

Accordingly, Save the Children Nepal has distributed 10,000 liters of water to 534 households in Ishworpur Municipality-10 of Sarlahi while Oxfam has distributed shallow tubewells and drinking water to 200 households in Chandranigahpur of Rautahat, and 200 households in Haripur, Hariwan and Malangwa of Sarlahi.

Likewise, Plan International Nepal has distributed water jars to 1,000 households in Sabaila Municipality in Dhanusha. World Vision International Nepal has provided small irrigation support to 55 and 314 households in Ekdara and Samsi rural municipalities of Mahottari, respectively, as well as 93 households in Haripurwa of Sarlahi and 42 households in Madhav Narayan of Rautahat.

Islamic Relief has started deep boring to reach 1,000 households in Rajpur and Chapur of Rautahat, as well as 50 households in Mahagadimai and Suvarna of Bara.

The Water Aid has distributed drinking water to 300 Dalit settlements in Lahan Municipality of Siraha. SNV Nepal is supporting the study and research on the drinking water situation in the province. It has also started a study of deep boring in five municipalities of Dhanusha and Mahottari.

Furthermore, international NGOs such as People in Need, Action AID, Good Neighbours, UMN are coordinating with the local level for project selection and coordination.

In addition, the Start Fund Nepal project, run under the coordination of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and the UK government has been launched.

This program will be implemented in the drought-affected Birgunj and Bahuradarmai of Parsa, Simsangadi of Bara, Paroha Municipality of Rautahat, Kabilasi of Sarlahi, Laxmi Patahari Rural Municipality of Siraha, and 10 municipalities including Rupani, Tilathi Koiladi and Hanumannagar of Saptari and will runs for the next 60 days.

This project will benefit more than 44,000 members of 8,355 households.

In addition, the World Food Program has started distributing shallow tubewells, pump sets, and motor pipes in Madhav Narayan Municipality of Rautahat and Hanumannagar and Tilathi Koiladi of Saptari. (RSS)