Immediately after the road was opened, a local partner of Christian Solidarity International (CSI) embarked on the difficult journey to the Trishuli River in Nuwakot district – one of the areas most affected by flash floods. It took the team nine hours from Kathmandu, roughly three times longer than normal.
The team of seven reached the distribution location on 2 September, returning to Kathmandu late the following evening. They travelled in two trucks loaded with relief supplies and a jeep.
The journey was extremely challenging and, at times, dangerous, CSI’s partner reported. Rain had left the roads muddy and slippery, and there were regular small landslides. Even passing oncoming vehicles on the narrow roads was difficult. At some bends, a team member had to run ahead to check whether another vehicle was approaching and stop it if necessary.
Unprecedented disaster
Search and rescue operations were still underway when our partner arrived in the affected area. Helicopters were continually flying in and out, bringing newly rescued people to safety.
Helicopter crews were still focusing on rescuing people and not yet on distributing relief items.
Local people described the scale of the disaster that hit on 26 August as unprecedented. Elderly residents told our partner: “Never in our lives have we experienced something like this. Never have we seen such a catastrophe”.
The impact of the flash floods extends across several districts. According to CSI’s partner, 3,900 houses have been destroyed in Nuwakot district, 1,800 in Rasuwa on the border with China, 1,400 in Dhading district, 250 in Gorkha district, and 100 in Chitwan, bordering India.
Behind these figures are thousands of families who have lost homes, possessions and, in many cases, their livelihoods. Some were left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.
The psychological impact is also becoming increasingly apparent. Our partner reports that many people appear traumatised and overwhelmed. They do not know what to do next and are struggling mentally with what they have experienced and lost.
More than 100 families reached
The area where our partner distributed relief has an estimated population of around 15,000 people, the majority of whom belong to the indigenous Tamang community. Approximately 2,500 people – close to 20 percent of the local population – are Christians belonging to several churches.
During this first distribution, the team was able to provide emergency packages to more than 100 families. These packages contained practical items urgently needed by people made homeless: tarpaulins, blankets, mattresses, mosquito nets, torches, water purifiers, soap and kitchen utensils.
Local churches are playing an important role in serving the community. Their desire is to be ‘salt and light’ in the midst of this crisis – not only caring for fellow Christians, but serving everyone in need.
Churches involved in relief work
Eight temporary holding centres have been established for displaced people in the area, two of them located in local churches. Around 1,200 displaced people are currently sleeping in these eight centres, while many more visit them each day in search of food.
Church volunteers run the two holding centres that are located in church buildings, cooking meals, organising assistance and distributing relief supplies.
One church alone is currently providing meals for between 200 and 300 people every day.
Rather than distributing foodstuffs directly to individual families, CSI’s partner handed supplies to the church-run centres and a centre housed in a former school.
After delivering the supplies, our partner returned to Kathmandu and immediately prepared for the next relief delivery that took place on 7 September.
The situation remains extremely difficult, and the needs of the affected communities will continue well beyond the first emergency distributions.
Yet amid the devastation, local churches and volunteers are already serving their communities day after day – providing shelter, preparing food and caring for people regardless of their religious background.
One of two church centres that provide meals to those in need. csi
