The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has announced it is mobilising emergency food assistance for 50,000 people displaced by floods in the eastern Terai districts. "The emergency operation is in response to a Government of Nepal request after monsoon rains caused an embankment of the Saptakoshi River to collapse, flooding thousands of hectares of land and forcing an estimated 50,000 people to flee their homes," the WFP statement reads. "We were able to quickly get food moving to thousands of displaced families affected by these devastating floods," stated WFP Country Representative in Nepal, Richard Ragan. "However, we are concerned about the continuous rains which could increase the number of people in need of food." Initially, WFP will provide a 15-day food basket consisting of rice, pulses, salt and vegetable oil to 50,000 flood victims. "WFP is prepared to provide food for up to 30 days for families who cannot return to their homes because of high water levels," the statement reads. Water still completely covers two of the five VDCs flooded last week. WFP estimates that nearly 5,000 hectares of crops have been destroyed in the area. Humanitarian food assistance has begun to reach flood-affected areas and distributions to displaced families should begin this week. However, WFP said strikes in Nawalparasi along the East-West Highway are delaying trucks carrying WFP humanitarian food relief to flood victims. WFP has begun escorting trucks through this section of the highway. "I urge people not to block our food deliveries. Stopping much needed food to people who have lost everything is simply no way to deal with grievances," urged Ragan