Finland is granting one million euros in aid to alleviate humanitarian needs in northern Nepal caused by the recent deadly flash flood, according to the foreign ministry. The ministry said the aid will be sent to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). It will go towards helping people displaced from their homes due to the flooding, with special focus on women, girls, and people with disabilities. More than 1,200 people died in last week’s flash flood. Over 5,000 people are still missing. “The flash flooding has caused massive damage to Nepal’s population and infrastructure. Finnish assistance will help to provide healthcare services and support, drinking water, hygiene and sanitation supplies and temporary shelter for those who have lost their homes in areas affected by the disaster,” Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio (Finns) said in a press release on Friday.
The ministry noted that Nepal’s geographic position and landscape make it vulnerable to numerous unpredictable natural catastrophes, with flooding occurring regularly during the monsoon period. “However, this recent flash flood was exceptionally destructive. It is believed to have originated from the Himalayas when a mass of ice and rock became detached and crashed into the water system, registering as a magnitude 5.2 seismic event. Search and rescue operations continue on both sides of the border in Nepal and China, and thousands of people are still missing,” the release read.
Courtesy: YLE News
