NEPAL (4 October)
Heavy rains which began in early July resulted in widespread flooding and landslides, affecting some 800 000 people in 25 of Nepal’s 75 districts with 185 people killed. Parts of southern Nepal were submerged for over two weeks. A total of 68 000 houses were reported destroyed or damaged. Up to mid-September, emergency relief was provided by the Red Cross and over 8 000 families had been assisted with food relief. There is an urgent need for further funding to allow the rehabilitation phase of the operation.
The rice crop, planted in July-August, is due for harvest in November-December. The 2004 paddy output of the harvest is provisionally forecast at 4.0 million tonnes, 3.7 percent below last year and 3.4 below the average of the previous five years, reflecting the impact of floods. Harvesting of maize is just completed and the output is estimated 1.4 million tonnes, some 3 percent below last year.