The Watchers News | Aug 19, 2017 | Floods affect 16 million, kill 500 in Nepal, India and Bangladesh | .. More than 16 million people in Nepal, India and Bangladesh are affected by monsoon floods in one of the most serious crises the region has seen in many years, IFRC reports. So far, floods in those three countries are thought to have killed about 500 people .. |

"This is fast becoming one of the most serious humanitarian crises this region has seen in many years and urgent action is needed to meet the growing needs of millions of people affected by these devastating floods," said Martin Faller, Deputy Regional Director for Asia Pacific, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), on August 18, 2017.

"Millions of people across Nepal, Bangladesh and India face severe food shortages and disease caused by polluted flood waters," Faller said.

According to local authorities, flood levels have already reached record highs in Bangladesh and flooding in Jamuna has surpassed levels set in 1988, the deadliest floods the country has ever faced.

Faller added that more than one third of Bangladesh and Nepal have been flooded. "We fear the humanitarian crisis will get worse in the days and weeks ahead," he said.

"This tragic flooding in Nepal has claimed at least 128 lives and 33 people are still missing," said Dev Ratna Dhakhwa, Secretary General, Nepal Red Cross Society.....[READ MORE]