Humanitarian organizations are mobilizing to aid survivors of catastrophic floods near the Nepal-China border. A torrent of water and mud several stories high swept through communities after a glacier collapse, leaving hundreds dead or missing. The Nepalese army has been using helicopters to rescue people because many roads and bridges have been washed out. Dan Hovey, vice president of emergency response at Direct Relief, said his organization had already pre-positioned emergency supplies in Nepal for the upcoming monsoon season, enabling quick help during these unexpected floods. "Nepal is a very disaster-prone country," he said. "On the disaster vulnerability indexes, it's one of the highest – from earthquakes, floods, drought, wildfires." In addition to the medicines and supplies already in Nepal, Direct Relief was readying more shipments, and new donations would allow the nonprofit to provide more support in the months to come. "This is going to be a long recovery process," Hovey said.
Responding organizations say giving cash is currently most needed to provide local agencies and nonprofits flexible funding to continue their relief efforts. Here are some organizations aiding those on the Nepal-China border, including U.S. groups responding on the ground.
U.S.-based organizations already operating in Nepal: All Hands & Hearts, the disaster recovery nonprofit, is currently providing emergency relief in Nepal, where it has worked since 2015 and plans to continue rebuilding schools and homes. Catholic Relief Services, the international humanitarian agency, has partnered with Caritas Nepal to provide aid and social services, while also working to deploy its own teams. Global Giving, the support nonprofit, has launched the Nepal Flood Relief Fund that it hopes will raise $1.5 million to provide flexible funding for search and rescue efforts, other emergency responses, infrastructure rebuilding, and recovery projects. Humanity & Inclusion, the international victim assistance nonprofit, is already distributing emergency supplies and providing rehabilitation support inside local hospitals. Save the Children, the international nonprofit, is already delivering cooking kits, mosquito nets, and blankets to 1,000 households in the region and coordinating with national and local authorities to scale its response. World Central Kitchen, Chef Jose Andres' humanitarian nonprofit, is already feeding those in the region through local partners and plans to activate its distribution network to bring more food to the affected area.