RECoN for Help Terai Flood Victims

August 15, 2017, Kathmandu

 Nepal is in trouble due to recent torrential rains. The Terai belt has been massively affected by floods while landslides in hills also caused loses of lives and properties. Around 100 people were killed and dozens reported missing after torrential rains triggered floods and landslides in parts of Nepal, according to the news media. Many of the casualties were reported from the Terai region. The monsoon havoc which started on Friday last week had affected 27 districts spanning from the eastern, central to the western regions.

Several rivers, including the Koshi and the Bagmati are close to or have crossed danger levels as heavy rainfall has lashed Nepal for four days last week, swelling several Himalayan rivers beyond the danger mark and causing flooding and landslides at many places.

A total of 34,843 houses were inundated across the plains. Thousands of houses were destroyed in floods that killed an estimated 400 livestock. The floods also damaged crops worth of billions of rupees.

The suffered people are getting more trouble due lack of relief activities. Shelter, medicines, food, drinking water, cloths are not available to them. They are also not having lighting solutions at the present situation.

With deep concerns to the troubles of the flood victims, Renewable Energy Confederation Nepal (RECoN) which was known as Renewable Energy Coordination Committee (RECC) in the past organized interactions and discussions on possibilities ways to Help Terai Flood Victims. The Tuesday meeting was successful to discuss on the minimizing losses and materials to avail to the sufferers.

RE experts, academia and professionals as participants of the programme discussed and put views on the problems caused by the recent flood and impacts.

The immediate solution for the sufferers suggested to avail solar electrical systems so as the people who have nothing left can have lights for nights, and solar mobile charging systems which may later be handed over to community health centers to keep vaccines and some essential medicines in cold temperature. Distribution of ICSs to the suffered was also discussed as one of the solutions.

The meeting also discussed on necessary preparedness to tackle undesired incidents anytime in future so as damages may be narrowed down to a minimum scale. Involvement of RETs in preparedness is also discussed as part of solutions.

Likewise, some experts urged to rethink of maintaining ecology of Chuare Bhabar at the soonest so as the root cause of floods and similar problems could be addressed and return of Chure Bhabar ecology will contribute such natural calamities cause much lesser than what happened now.

The ACPC/RERL experts elaborated through a pp presentation that concerned Ministries and AEPC are also in alertness to manage relief materials to the flood victims. The materials provided will be renewable energy technology which will immediately help lighting, mobile charging, cooking and water purifying needs. Executive Director of AEPC Mr. Ram Prasad Dhital elaborated that Minister for Energy, Minister for

Ministry of Population and Environment, concerned high officials and AEPC are seriously working on the subject matter. RECoN also needs to be serious in coordinating private sector help relief works. Likewise, it needs to be involved in the planning of preparedness as well.

RECoN, in this context requests all to be one to help the recent natural disaster victims. The private sector is ready to extend and hand in hand with government sector also.

The RECoN member organizations are requested to extend their help to the victims by means of availing foods, cloths, medicines, cash or technological applications to ease the sufferers' living at least for short period. As such member associations and other associated individuals and institutions may contact RECoN for coordinated relief works.

RECoN requested all to be one to help the recent natural disaster victims. The private sector is ready to extend and hand in hand with government sector also. In this context, the member organizations are requested to extend their help to the victims by means of availing foods, cloths, medicines, cash or technological applications to ease the sufferers' living at least for short period. As such member associations and other associated individuals and institutions may contact RECoN for coordinated relief works.