Working for the people and environment of Nepal

FLOODS

NEPAL FLOODS

On August 26, the Himalayan Langtang mountain landscape above Nepal’s Rasuwa district changed in minutes. A glacier collapsed and sent a massive surge of ice, water, mud and debris down the Lhende Khola river (tributary of the Trisuli river).

This 100 foot wall of water, mud and debris barrelled down the narrow valleys taking all in its path; people and livestock; villages, homes and shops; roads and bridges; crops and agriculture land and destroyed the many hydroelectric plants in the valley. About 12% of the Nepal’s total electricity production has been knocked out and 10% of the country’s livestock lost; mostly to small subsistence farmers along with their crops of rice.

The initial flood wave descended at 120mph; warnings were only minutes. Over 8,000 people are reported dead or missing.

There is nothing left that can be salvaged of homes and shops in villages like DeviGhat and Bidur. Any skeletons of buildings still standing are full of mud; all fixtures and fittings ripped out. See photo above

The government has decided to relocate the communities from the destroyed villages away from the river. The survivors will have to rebuild their lives from scratch.

WMT support Aparna who runs projects in health and income generation. She has recently visited the area and sent these emails to us.

On Aug 25 we were at the Gyirong immigration centre and entered Tibet. The next day, Aug 26, around 10:30am the flood of water and debris came crashing down and completely destroyed the land crossing at Gyirong. Needless to say, we were lucky to have made it across. We continued with our tour and now we are back home in Kathmandu.

Next day I spent day finding little relief supplies specially for children, toys, game, entertaining goods. Went to Bidur, Nuwakot holding centres. Every movement was very emotional, spend days, with children and others who lost their families and houses, everything. Government is trying to help but not enough. In the beginning, everything had to go through one door policy but they couldn't handle, they became flexible now we can provide necessary things directly. Needs are unlimited, they have enough rice and lentils for one month. They appreciate anything we can provide. With our limited resources I took mostly things for children and some nutritional supplies for 100 people. We visited 4 holding centres, there were more than 600 victims. I am planning to go to another holding centres, little remote place, where we worked many years ago. Devi Ghat. Next to Trisuli, whole village is washed out. Everything is so expensive, very difficult to raise funding, these days whole world is in difficult position. Thousands of victims needs long term support. Government is looking for place to establish new settlement in safer places. At least now they have warm food but they will need everything when they move to new settlement.

As of now, Aparna is back in the Trisuli area taking supplies and assessing the damage.

On 11th October Sarah Wilkins and some friends are travelling to Nepal and will gets a full account from Aparna. This trip was planned many months ago.

WMT is raising money to help survivors rebuild their lives.

Long after the international media forgets this disaster, people will still need help setting up income generating projects like purchasing livestock and starting a sewing business.

100% of money raised by WMT goes directly to the people in need; our only occasional overheads are unavoidable bank charges and newsletter/website costs.

ANY DONATION HOWEVER SMALL WILL HELP

There is a fund raising evening in Sarn, Newtown, Powys on Saturday 3rd October.