Kathmandu, September 3: The European Union (EU) has announced an additional NPR 89 million in humanitarian assistance to support communities affected by the devastating flash floods in Nepal.

With the latest contribution, the EU’s total emergency funding for flood response in Nepal has surpassed NPR 445 million (EUR 2.5 million).

The additional funding will support a Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) operation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), led by the Nepal Red Cross Society. The operation aims to provide assistance to up to 20,000 people, or approximately 4,000 households, in Bagmati Province.

The assistance will cover emergency and transitional shelter, cash support, water and sanitation, healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support, protection and other essential needs.

The support comes as Nepal continues its response to the catastrophic flash floods that struck on August 26, causing significant loss of life and widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and essential services.

The EU is also mobilising in-kind assistance through its Civil Protection Mechanism. Germany, Luxembourg, Latvia and Sweden are providing shelter and hygiene items, forensic equipment and other essential supplies.

In addition, the EU is organising a Humanitarian Air Bridge to Kathmandu. A flight carrying more than 80 tonnes of relief supplies from the EU’s emergency stock in Copenhagen is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu later this week.

The EU and its Member States are among the world’s leading humanitarian aid donors. Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department, the EU provides assistance to people affected by conflicts and natural disasters based on humanitarian needs.

The European Commission has also signed a EUR 16 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the IFRC to support the Federation’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF).