The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced it will provide 150,000 US dollars from the ‘South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund’ to meet the essential health and other needs of flood victims in Nepal.
‘This emergency fund will support immediate response priorities. The World Health Organization is committed to assisting Nepal through its response and recovery efforts,’ stated Dr. Nilesh Budhha, Acting Head of the organization’s South-East Asia Regional Office.
Previously, within hours of the flood on August 26, the World Health Organization deployed and dispatched essential emergency medical supplies. These included ‘Interagency Emergency Health Kits’ capable of meeting the health needs of approximately 10,000 people for three months, and multi-purpose tents. The regional office provided this information in a statement issued on Sunday.
Based on essential needs, the organization has further mobilized surgical masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, and other medical supplies for the affected areas.
WHO’s Ongoing Response and Health Concerns
According to the statement, the organization is working closely with the government and partners to coordinate the health response, strengthen disease surveillance, ensure the continuity of essential health services, and identify and address potential new health risks.
These risks include drowning, injuries, diarrheal and respiratory illnesses, waterborne and foodborne diseases, and vector-borne diseases (transmitted by germs or mosquitoes), among other problems.
The organization also stated that the pain of losing loved ones, homes, and livelihoods, along with displacement and uncertainty, could severely impact the mental health and psychosocial well-being of affected communities.
