Following the floods in Nepal, HI is deploying an inclusive response

Six days after the disaster, the situation remains dire

The floods in Nepal continue to cast a shadow of grief over the country. The death toll is rising day by day, with nearly 1,000 people dead and more than 4,400 missing. Search operations are still underway to locate survivors and evacuate survivors.

Some of the hardest-hit regions remain very difficult to access, as many bridges have been completely destroyed and roads are damaged or blocked by debris and mudslides. Telecommunications have not yet been restored everywhere and some areas remain completely cut off from the rest of the country.

An HI team arrived in the district of Nuwakot, one of the worst-affected areas, in the days following the flooding. The team visited health centres and emergency shelters to assess the needs of survivors and to identify people requiring specific assistance, such as people with disabilities, older people and children.

“When we arrived in Nuwakot, we were immediately struck by the large number of people moving along the main roads, families, volunteers, armed forces and relief workers all working together. What stayed with me most was seeing the faces of those looking at lists of missing family members. I could see the hope and despair in their eyes. I saw mothers carrying their babies, trying every possible way to find their husband or children; it was a heartbreaking sight. But despite the pain, I also noticed moments of support and resilience among the people, a reminder of the strength and hope that sustain the community,” says Rabindra Shrestha, HI rehabilitation specialist and member of the team deployed to the area.

For the ten thousand people displaced by the disaster, the situation remains extremely precarious: they need temporary shelters, with access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as food. Given the extremely cramped conditions in which some survivors are living, special care is needed to ensure that children and women are protected from potential violence. The authorities are also closely monitoring the risk of disease outbreaks.

The emergency response

Working closely with local authorities, HI teams are helping to assess the needs of the various communities, paying particular attention to the needs of people with disabilities, older people, children and women. This step is essential to ensure a response tailored to everyone’s needs, as Rabindra explains:

“At present, generating accurate information is challenging due to access difficulties. The figures are continuously changing, which limits our ability to plan effective actions. We are working with our partners to advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable and are striving to set up services tailored to their specific needs. To move forward, coordinated efforts with all stakeholders are essential to reach affected populations.”

As such, HI is assessing rehabilitation needs in healthcare centres and temporary shelters. Injured people requiring advanced and specialised care are transferred to Kathmandu, but some centres are tending to people with minor injuries who require rehabilitation. In addition, HI has handed over around 100 mobility aids – wheelchairs, crutches, etc. – to the authorities for distribution to those in need.

“Mobility aids are difficult to access after the flood, which is why we have brought this emergency stock. We are also seeing significant mental health needs. The people we meet remind us of the deep human distress behind, the resilience, the silent suffering and the urgent need for support,” explains Rabindra Shrestha.

In addition to the functional rehabilitation services, HI has mobilized its local partners and is currently preparing to launch mental health and psychosocial support as well as protection services, with a team of about ten people expected to arrive on the ground on 3rd September. HI team is also preparing to start needs assessments in some of the most inaccessible areas such Trishuli and Rasuwa.

Every survivor has a story, and behind every story there’s a cry for help

During his time on the ground, Rabindra Shrestha meets many survivors of the floods – people who, in many cases, have lost everything.

“During our visit to a hospital, we met a group of people from Devighat who had been affected by the floods. Among them was an elderly man who had lost everything, his home, his belongings, and yet he answered our questions with a calmness that seemed almost unaffected. It was as if he had accepted the loss, showing strength in silence.

We also met a young mother and her child who hadn’t spoken a word. They just listened quietly, absorbing everything around them. When they heard about their missing husband and father, their eyes filled with tears, heavy with silent pain and heartbreak. Every person affected by the floods has a story and behind every story there is a family crying out for help.”