Flash Floods in Nepal: Helvetas Sends a Team to the Disaster Area and Prepares Emergency Aid
Following the devastating flash flood in northern Nepal, Helvetas is preparing emergency relief measures for the affected population. A team of local staff set out for the disaster area this morning to assess the extent of the damage and organize relief efforts on the ground. At the same time, Helvetas is collecting donations in Switzerland to support those affected.
The flash flood struck the Rasuwa district and other areas along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers on Tuesday morning. The floodwaters swept away settlements, bridges and roads. According to authorities, numerous bodies have been recovered, and thousands of people are still missing. Remote mountain regions, some of which are difficult to reach, have been particularly hard hit. Preliminary reports indicate that further flash floods cannot be ruled out.
Helvetas is in close contact with local authorities, local partner organizations and affected communities. A team of staff members from Nepal is now on its way to the crisis region to assess relief needs and prepare initial response measures. Helvetas is collaborating with a long-standing local partner organization on the ground.
For emergency relief, Helvetas is also coordinating with its partner organizations from the European Alliance2015 network, which have many years of experience in humanitarian aid.
“Many of the affected villages are located in remote mountainous regions that are difficult to reach following the flooding. Thanks to our long-standing presence in Nepal and our collaboration with local partner organizations, we can quickly determine where aid is most urgently needed and how we can best support the people,” says Niraj Acharya, Head of Humanitarian Aid at Helvetas Nepal.
Helvetas has been active in Nepal for over 70 years and has a broad network of local partner organizations. Based on ongoing needs assessments, a decision will be made in the coming days regarding which relief measures will be implemented as a priority. The current focus is on providing particularly vulnerable households with emergency shelter, hygiene supplies, drinking water and other essential goods.
The organization has launched a fundraising appeal in Switzerland to enable emergency aid for those affected.
Helvetas' donation account:
CH76 0900 0000 8000 3130 4 (Reference: Nepal)
Media Contacts
Nepal:
Niraj Acharya, Head of Humanitarian Aid, Helvetas Nepal
Mobile: +977 984 145 72 84
Email: Niraj.Acharya@helvetas.org
Maneesh Pradhan, Country Director, Helvetas Nepal
Phone: +977 1 54 24 925, 5424 926
Email: Maneesh.Pradhan@helvetas.org
Switzerland (German/English):
Jürg Merz, Continental Coordinator for Asia, Helvetas
Mobile: +41 78 341 00 96
Email: Juerg.Merz@helvetas.org
Jürg Merz worked for Helvetas in Nepal for many years and coordinated extensive emergency relief efforts following the devastating earthquake of 2015. He is currently in India and is available to provide assessments of the situation in Nepal and the country’s broader context.