UNDP in Nepal appeals for international support

The head of the UN Development Programme in Nepal has appealed for international support to help victims of the catastrophic flooding in Nepal a month ago rebuild their lives. The organization has been carrying out relief efforts on the ground since the disaster.

Yokosuka Kyoko, UNDP resident representative for Nepal, spoke to NHK in a remote interview from Kathmandu about the situation in affected areas. She said "access is the main bottleneck" for aid efforts.

She said it's still difficult to deliver food and medicine to isolated communities because of the massive damage the floods inflicted on infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

Soil and debris piled up in flood-hit residential areas could fill 3,000 Olympic swimming pools.

Yokosuka said:“Because of the sheer scale of the disaster, and because it involves not only rubble but also liquefaction, the removal process will be complex. We'll have to use really big machines to remove it over several months or more.”

She pointed out that ensuring the privacy and safety of women and children remains a challenge at some evacuation centers, with many expected to live in shelters for a long time.

She warned that the risk of gender-based violence and human trafficking could rise as the evacuation period drags on.

Yokosuka indicated consultation services will be needed to help prevent such problems.