Nepal needs your help!

On 26 August 2026, a devastating and sudden-onset flash flood occurred in the Bhote Koshi River, following a powerful surge of water, sediment, ice, rocks, and debris from the upstream Himalayan catchment in Tibet/China, reportedly associated with a major ice-and-rock avalanche/landslide.

The flood rapidly travelled downstream through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, severely affecting communities in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Gorkha and Dhading, including settlements, market places and travellers in and around the Rasuwa–Gosaikunda area, while posing continuing risks to downstream communities towards Gorkha, Chitwan, Nawalparasi and along the Trishuli and Narayani corridor. The sudden and high-intensity flooding caused extensive loss of life and widespread destruction of homes, settlements, business houses, agriculture farm, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities, Nepal-China border custom and immigration facilities, and other critical infrastructure, with many people still missing or out of contact. Based on the NDRRMA situation briefing, the event constitutes a large-scale and catastrophic emergency requiring a coordinated national and international humanitarian response. The Government of Nepal has declared an emergency in the most affected districts and mobilized additional resources for relief and rescue operations.

Current Humanitarian Impact (as of 31 August 2026):

• Entire villages in districts such as Sindhupalchok, Makwanpur, and the Terai plains have been submerged or swept away by landslides.
• Loss of Life: The death toll has surpassed 900, with authorities warning that numbers may rise as recovery operations continue in hard-to-reach areas.
• Missing Persons: More than 3,000 people remain missing, including hundreds of foreign nationals, pilgrims, and local workers trapped in hydropower tunnels.
• Displacement: Approximately 93,000 people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, with entire communities isolated due to the destruction of over 40 suspension bridges and 25 miles of roads.
• Infrastructure: Critical infrastructure, including health posts, schools, and drinking water systems, has been severely damaged or destroyed, compounding the risk of waterborne diseases.
• Food insecurity is rising as paddy fields and stored harvests have been washed away.

The ACT Alliance, a global humanitarian network of churches and NGOs, has immediately activated its emergency response mechanisms in Nepal. Recognizing the scale of the disaster, the ACT Nepal Forum is prioritizing a coordinated, government-led response to complement national efforts and reach the most underserved communities. Some of the priority interventions include:

• Rapid Needs Assessment: Deploying teams to conduct joint assessments in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha districts to identify gaps in the government’s response.
• Life-Saving Assistance: Providing emergency shelter (tents, tarpaulins), non-food items (blankets, hygiene kits), and food security support to displaced families.
• WASH and Health: Restoring access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities to prevent cholera and diarrheal outbreaks, alongside supporting mobile health clinics for the injured.
• Protection and Psychosocial Support: Offering trauma counselling and protection services, particularly for women, children, and the elderly who have lost family members and livelihoods.

YMCA Solidarity Appeal

As a global family rooted in Christian principles and community service, the YMCA has a historic role in responding to human suffering. We are calling on YMCAs across Asia Pacific pray for our brothers and sisters in Nepal. We pray for families who have lost loved ones or are waiting for news from their loved ones. We invite you to join in the efforts to ensure that the most vulnerable survivors receive the dignity, care and hope they desperately need. Please reach out to them through our generous financial support. Your contributions, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in the lives of the victims. Let us come together to show the strength and unity of the YMCA in times of need and offer hope to those affected by this devastating natural disaster.