Madhes: An organisation funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has pledged to support the Madhes Province that presently bears the brunt of prolonged drought.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the government had declared the Province a crisis-ridden zone last Wednesday, publicly appealing for relief and assistance there. Prior to this, the Madhes Province government had recommended the federal government for this announcement.
Subsequently, Start Fund Nepal, being operated under the UK government, has, in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation, expressed commitment to implementing the relief and aid programmes targeting the Madhes/Tarai region. The Secretariat of the Madhes Province stated that the programmes will be implemented at 10 local levels of Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Siraha, and Saptari districts adversely affected by the drought. The schemes will be in place for 60 days where over 44,000 citizens of 8,355 households will benefit.
There will be three-phase implementations, spending the budget of Rs 26.03 million. The focus during the aid programme will be on the supplies of water for emergencies, the feasibility for digging boreholes, and the strengthening of irrigation and durable water supply systems.
Similarly, ‘cash for work’ initiatives under livelihood restoration efforts and technical aid in irrigation repair and alternative crops promotion will be prioritized under the aid programmes, according to press advisor to the Chief Minister, Awadesh Jha.