Moderator calls for Prayer for Nepal

Following August’s devastating flood in Nepal, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) is encouraging its members to support the work of its partners on the ground as they seek to respond to the immediate and ongoing needs of those affected. 

On 26 August, a section of a glacier collapsed in the Himalayas on the Nepal-China border causing a massive surge of water, which travelled along the Trishuli River, causing destruction in the Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading regions, north of Kathmandu. Floodwater swept away roads, homes, farmland, schools, businesses and health facilities, leaving many communities inaccessible. As of 3 September, 1,252 deaths had been confirmed with 4,216 people unaccounted for. 

In the aftermath of the floods, residents and rescuers were on high alert due to the risk of further flooding, as debris blocked rivers, forming barriers that could break quickly leading to further large releases of water.

PCI’s development partners, Christian Aid Ireland, Tearfund and Tearfund Ireland are responding, along with PCI’s partner in country, the United Mission to Nepal (UMN). UMN continue to send regular updates detailing the situation and their response to it, which is evolving based on needs assessments. The immediate needs are for food, safe drinking water, shelter, WASH supplies and medicines. 

On 2 September, UMN provided urgent relief to families in Nuwakot, distributing essential food supplies to 116 families. They said, “For families who have lost so much, every food item, cooking utensil and helping hand matters. Yet these 116 families represent only a fraction of the many people still waiting for assistance.” 

One of those affected is Dil Bahadur, a 70-year-old mean from Rasuwa. “My heart ached as I spoke with Dil Bahadur” says Melsan Shrestha, a UMN staff member currently in Rasuwa. “We sat in the wreckage beside his house and he shared his story. Just as we were speaking a helicopter took off from the site, carrying human remains.”

Dil Bahadur was working in the fields when the flood hit. His wife was at home.  As the flood started getting into the village and into the houses, he started running as fast as he could to safe grounds. He survived, but he doesn’t know what happened to his wife.  

Six days after the disaster, half of his house lies beneath the sand and mud. He looks at his house, searching for answers that may never come.  “I don’t know if she tried to run away from the house or if she was trapped inside”. His heart tells him that her body is still inside the house and hopes to find it. The damaged house stands deeply buried under the mud and ruins. 

For now, Dil Bahadur can only sit and wait and hold on to the hope of finding her body one day.

In the coming weeks and months, the needs will change, with longer term support needed to help families, businesses and services get back on their feet. Families will need permanent housing solutions and livelihoods assistance, schools and health facilities will need equipment and supplies, and infrastructure including roads will need to be rebuilt. Some people may remain displaced, unable to return to homes and land they have inhabited for years.