The immediate emergency may have passed its first critical days, but for communities in Nepal devastated by floods and landslides, the road to recovery is only just beginning.
On 26 August, catastrophic flash floods and landslides swept through communities in northern Nepal, destroying homes, roads and bridges, and leaving families grieving loved ones and uncertain about their future.
As of early October, 1,453 deaths had been confirmed and more than 5,200 people remained missing. Thousands of people continue to need safe water, food, shelter and healthcare, while damaged roads and infrastructure are making it difficult to reach some affected communities.
From emergency relief to rebuilding lives
Through the ACT Alliance, Act for Peace is supporting DanChurchAid (DCA) and International Nepal Fellowship (INF) as they work alongside communities affected by the disaster.
With the initial search and rescue efforts giving way to relief and recovery, the needs are changing. Families who have lost their homes need safe places to stay, farmers need support to restore their livelihoods, and communities need clean water, functioning sanitation and essential services restored.
Local teams have been responding since the emergency started. In affected areas, DCA and its partners are helping clear debris from roads and riverbanks, improve sanitation and reduce the risk of disease. They are also providing emotional and psychosocial support to children and adults experiencing the distress of the disaster, while working to improve safety and support for women and girls. INF are responding with food assistance, with a focus on vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children. As well as supporting people with disabilities through referrals, medical support and assistive devices.
This work is vital, but there is much more to do. As the recovery continues, support will be needed for temporary shelter, cash assistance, agricultural recovery and the restoration of community water systems and infrastructure.
Standing alongside communities for the long haul
DCA and INF bring longstanding experience and trusted local relationships to this response. Working alongside local organisations and communities helps ensure assistance reaches people who need it most and reflects the priorities of those rebuilding their lives.
“The devastation is much more than we can even imagine,” says Dr Samjhana Bista, Country Director, DCA.
“We must rebuild more safely and for that we need support from across the globe to recover from this huge loss.”
~ Dr Samjhana Bista, Country Director, DCA.
Recovery will take time. For families who have lost their homes, livelihoods and loved ones, rebuilding is not simply a matter of repairing buildings and roads. It also means restoring a sense of security, reconnecting communities and finding a way forward after profound loss.
“We can and we must collect ourselves and rise again,” says Dr Bista.
As this work continues, we invite you to keep standing alongside communities in Nepal. Your support can help families access essential assistance today and rebuild their lives for the months and years ahead.
Together, we can help communities move beyond this devastating disaster towards a safer and more hopeful future.