Nepal Red Cross’ relief, psychosocial counseling to flood survivors

Kathmandu: The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) said it has mobilised its volunteers from the very beginning for the search, rescue, relief distribution, psychosocial counseling, temporary shelter management and other support for the people affected by the recent floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers.

The organisation, in collaboration with the Central Department of Psychology and the Counseling Psychology Programme at Tribhuvan University has mobilised 12 volunteers focusing on disaster-affected families, communities, schools and various holding centres housing the survivors, according to NRCS Central Chairperson Dr Bishal Kumar Bhandari.

According to him, in case of people and families requiring services such as food, housing, security and so on, the NRCS will advocate for channelizing them to the support system of the relevant bodies.

NRCS General Secretary Rhishi Raman Khanal informed RSS that the volunteers would visit the affected families, conduct mental health and psychosocial support activities, connecting them to the respective authorities for further support.

Meanwhile, the NRCS Chitwan said the volunteers are in the field since the disaster struck the district on August 26. It is said a large number of people continue visiting the district in search of their missing relatives and those unidentified bodies.

The procedures to identify the bodies and the collection of DNA samples are underway in the premises of the Chitwan Industries’ Association in Bharatpur metropolis-10. As of Wednesday, the eighth day since the disaster struck, collections of 33 DNA samples were registered here and 355 bodies found.

A significant number of people have arrived here in the hope of finding the remains of their loved ones. NRCS Chitwan branch Chairperson Hari Prasad Paudel said they were engaged in various initiatives from supporting the management of bodies to providing relief and comfort to the affected and the collection of the personal bodily traits for the identification of the missing.

The NRCS here has handed dead body bags, PPE, masks, sanitizers for handling the dead bodies, and continues to facilitate the families who are unable to transport the dead bodies up to their homes on their own, he added.

RSS