KATHMANDU: Families hardest hit by the August 26 Bhotekoshi flood are set to receive Rs 100,000 each in cash assistance from the Nepal Red Cross Society to help them meet their immediate needs and begin rebuilding their lives.

The assistance will be extended under the ‘Samunnati Programme’, being implemented by the Ministry of Women, Children, Senior Citizens and Social Security.

An agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday between the Ministry and the Nepal Red Cross Society in the presence of Minister for Women, Children, Senior Citizens and Social Security Sita Badi.

Acting Secretary Chakra Bahadur Budha signed the agreement on behalf of the Ministry, while Nepal Red Cross Society Chairman Dr Bishal Kumar Bhandari signed on behalf of the Society.

The initial estimate puts the number of beneficiary families at around 6,000 across 63 districts affected by the devastating flood.

Nepal Red Cross Society General Secretary Rishiraman Khanal said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority would provide the list of affected families.

The Red Cross will then identify and verify the beneficiaries before depositing the assistance directly into their bank accounts.

The families will be able to use the cash according to their most pressing needs, including food, clothing, healthcare and sanitation, essential household items, transportation, communication and livelihood support.

The Red Cross said priority would be given to women-headed households, persons with disabilities, children requiring special care, senior citizens, marginalized communities, gender and sexual minorities and other vulnerable families.

The Society has been providing humanitarian assistance since the Bhotekoshi flood, which claimed scores of lives and caused extensive damage to property across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan districts.

Its response has included multipurpose cash assistance, shelter support, water and sanitation services, mental health assistance, protection, community engagement and inclusion.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have also been supporting post-disaster efforts, including the search for missing persons and management of the deceased.