On the morning of 27 August, a massive flood wave struck northern Nepal. It came from the Chinese side across the border at Syabrubesi in Rasuwa district, sweeping entire villages, schools, banks and homes along its path through the river valley.
The situation in the affected regions remains dire. Whole villages and parts of towns have been destroyed, people are still missing, and many families have lost their homes and nearly all their possessions. Children, the elderly, the sick and people with disabilities have been hit hardest.
Our long-standing partner Glory Society Nepal was on the ground within a very short time. We have worked with Joshua, Elizabeth and Martha Khadka since 2008, supported by HCE Germany and Dr Thomas Oehler; over these years the focus has been on education, healthcare, shelter, clothing and food for children and elderly people. Right now, it is about bare survival.
The biggest obstacle: getting there at all
Roads and transport routes are partly destroyed or impassable. The GS Nepal helpers therefore carry food, drinking water, medicines and other relief supplies into the disaster areas on foot — under conditions where even the helpers themselves have barely enough food and clean water. Joshua writes to us: “Our team are going around flood affected areas by walk with taking relief materials. Even they don’t gotten foods and drinking water for themselves. Even though are doing big job for flood victims people.”
At the same time, the team supports the Nepal Police in the search for the missing and the dead, and brings especially vulnerable people — the elderly, children, the sick, people with disabilities — to the rescue centre in Bidur, Nuwakot.
First successes, however small they may seem
A team of four set out with whatever was immediately available. Food, water, clothing and medicines were distributed, people were brought to safety and provided with the essentials — including cooking pots, beds, pillows, shoes and school materials. These supplies have since run out.
Particularly striking is the fate of four girls who were at school during the flood and survived because of it. “They lost their parents, houses and everything,” Joshua reports. They now urgently need shelter, food, clothing, beds, shoes and school materials. There are many similar cases in the affected areas.
From surviving back to living
These examples show that the help is reaching people and is concretely improving individual lives. But once the acute emergency relief is done, the even greater task begins. People need homes again, children need to be able to return to school, and families need a long-term perspective.
As soon as further financial support arrives, a second team will set out with relief supplies; reconstruction is to begin after that. Joshua and Elizabeth will travel to the crisis region themselves. Every step forward counts, however small — but the road from survival back to a self-determined life will be a long one.
Below we document the report from Glory Society Nepal.
Glory Society Nepal
Dear respected donors and friends
Namaste (greetings to you) from Joshua Nepal
On the 27th August, at around 8:45 am, a huge flood hit Nepal from the Chinese side at the northern border of Nepal. Called Syabrubesi Rasuwa district Nepal. It has swept away all the physical structures of villages, cities, offices, Banks, Schools in the river area of Nepal. It has also swept away thousands of people. So far, 1005 dead bodies have been found. Thousands of people and animals are still missing. Property worth billions has been damaged. Thousands have become homeless.
The elderly, small and young children, the disabled and the sick and the injured are sitting hungry in the dark under the open sky,
Scattered all around the disaster site.
They have nothing to eat, no clothes to wear, no drinking water, no medicine and no shelter.
The flood-affected area looks utterly desolate and terrifying.
The survivors are gripped by intense fear and dread that the flood might strike again.
As soon as Glory Society Nepal learned about the floods, a team of 4 people was sent to the flood-affected areas with a small amount of relief materials.
Our relief team has distributed the all relief materials. They brought with them to those in dire need.
As the relief materials they brought have run out.
Now they are helping with the Nepal police to search for and recover the dead bodies. They are also helping with the distribution of government relief.
As soon as Glory Society Nepal receives financial support, another team of 4 people will go with relief materials and plan to distribute relief materials.
After distributing relief materials, Glory Society Nepal has planned to carry out reconstruction work.
It aims to carry out all these works with the financial support of HCE Germany.
Since 2008, with the financial support of Dr. Thomas Oehler, pricing of HCE of Germany. We have been providing education, health, shelter, clothing and fooding to children and elderly.
We are also preparing with the aim of starting work in the flood-affected areas at a rapid pace as soon as HCE, s financial support is available..
Glory Society Nepal earnestly request all donors and friends for support. Any form of assistance is welcome.
Thank you very much. May God bless you abundantly.
With best regards
Joshua, Elizabeth and Martha Khadka
Glory Society Nepal