Madhesh: After the government declared Madhesh a drought-hit zone, the Association of International NGOs (AIN) in Nepal has accelerated its regular initiatives along with dedicated programs in the province.
According to National News Agency Nepal, AIN is responding to the drought-affected areas in Madhesh through their local partner organizations in coordination with the WASH Cluster, District Disaster Management Committee, and local levels. Pramil Adhikari, liaison officer of the AIN in Madhesh Province, highlighted these collaborative efforts.
Save the Children Nepal has distributed 10,000 liters of water to 534 households in Ishworpur Municipality-10 of Sarlahi. Meanwhile, Oxfam has provided shallow tubewells and drinking water to 200 households each in Chandranigahpur of Rautahat, Haripur, Hariwan, and Malangwa of Sarlahi.
Plan International Nepal has supplied water jars to 1,000 households in Sabaila Municipality in Dhanusha. World Vision International Nepal has offered small irrigation support to 55 and 314 households in Ekdara and Samsi rural municipalities of Mahottari, respectively, in addition to 93 households in Haripurwa of Sarlahi and 42 households in Madhav Narayan of Rautahat.
Islamic Relief has initiated deep boring projects to assist 1,000 households in Rajpur and Chapur of Rautahat, as well as 50 households in Mahagadimai and Suvarna of Bara.
Water Aid has distributed drinking water to 300 Dalit settlements in Lahan Municipality of Siraha. SNV Nepal is conducting a study and research on the drinking water situation in the province and has begun deep boring studies in five municipalities of Dhanusha and Mahottari.
Additionally, international NGOs such as People in Need, Action AID, Good Neighbours, and UMN are working with local authorities for project selection and coordination.
The Start Fund Nepal project, coordinated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and the UK government, has been launched to address the drought situation. This program will be implemented in several drought-affected areas, including Birgunj, 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. The initiative will run for the next 60 days and aim to benefit more than 44,000 members of 8,355 households.
Furthermore, 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.