Staying afloat
Following the devastating floods in southern Nepal in 2024, support from the Central Emergency Respond Fund under Anticipatory Action is helping families cope with the aftermath
Saptari, Nepal: When heavy rains lashed parts of the country in September 2024, Sukani Sada and her two daughters had little choice but to wait out the downpour in their home in Kanchanrup Municipality, Saptari District, in southern Nepal. As rainwater seeped through the leaking roof and pooled on the ground beneath them, the looming threat of floods weighed heavily on their minds.
“I kept thinking about how I would evacuate my mother in case of a flood,” recalls 15-year-old Kopila, fearing for her visually impaired mother.
Sukani had lost her eyesight at the age of five and had long since adapted to it. But life changed drastically when her husband passed away last year. Seeking support, she and her daughters moved to live with her brothers near the Koshi Barrage in Kanchanrup.
While her brothers provided food, Sukani had to manage everything else on her own. Their small shack — just big enough to fit a bed for three — was lined with straw and covered with a few blankets, offering minimal protection against the cold.
As she struggled to rebuild her life, the September floods disrupted everything once again.
With no disability pension and no citizenship, Sukani assumed she would receive no assistance. “I thought I wouldn’t get anything,” she says, recalling her resignation to yet another crisis.
But she was proven wrong.
Sukani’s household was among the most vulnerable identified during an initial assessment conducted by the local government with UNICEF Nepal.
In the aftermath of the floods, with support from the Central Emergency Response Fund - Anticipatory Action, UNICEF partnered with the local government and organizations to provide timely relief to affected families
Within 15 days of the flood, Sukani received NPR 15,000 as Multi-Purpose Cash (MPC), along with essential water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) supplies, as well as a tent, blanket, clothes and mosquito net. She was also provided food materials such as a bag of grain and cooking oil.
“I desperately needed a roof over my head and food to eat — both of which were taken care of,” says Sukani. She used the tent to reinforce her shelter and the cash for her children’s needs and household essentials. “The relief felt like a blessing,” she adds.
However, the flood also destroyed one of her most crucial documents — her birth certificate —leaving her even less hopeful about obtaining citizenship. Recognizing this challenge, UNICEF’s CASH+ initiative mobilized local partners to support Sukani in advocating for her case at the ward office.
“If I get my citizenship and birth certificates for my daughters then all my issues will be resolved,” shared a hopeful Sukani who envisions a bright future if things are to work out.
Encouraged by the support, Sukani has set aside NPR 5,000 from the MPC she received. She hopes to spend this on any expenses incurred to make her citizenship. As she prepares to navigate the next steps in obtaining her citizenship, she remains hopeful that the support she has received will be the foundation for lasting change.
