On the morning of August 26, communities across Nepal awoke to a disaster that would change thousands of lives forever. Floodwaters surged through the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli river system after what experts believe began with a massive glacier-related collapse of ice, rock, and debris near the Nepal-Tibet border.
The resulting surge of water, followed days later by a second wave of flooding, swept away homes, roads, livelihoods, and loved ones. An estimated 93,000 people have been affected by the flooding in Nepal, with thousands still missing and many more carrying the weight of profound grief.
Processing grief after the flooding in Nepal
For Tuka Devi Neupane, the flood is not measured in the number of lives lost or communities damaged. It is measured in the absence of the son she loved dearly and the voice she longs to hear one more time.
Tuka Devi’s 31-year-old son, Balaram, worked in the local health department and was known throughout his community for his dedication to serving others. On the day of the flooding in Nepal, he was helping warn residents to head for higher ground as the dangerous waters approached. In the midst of that effort, he was swept away.
Today, his family continues to grieve the loss of a beloved son, husband, and father. “My lovely son, please come back to us,” Tuka Devi sobs as she looks at her son’s image on her mobile phone. “Don’t leave us like this.”
Working together to support families
Stories like Tuka Devi’s reveal the deep anguish many families are carrying after the flooding in Nepal. Yet alongside sorrow and uncertainty, hope endures.
At a temporary shelter in Rasuwa district, Shyam spends his days helping care for displaced people. Together with volunteers, local authorities, and humanitarian organizations, he helps ensure families have meals, clothing, hygiene supplies, sanitation facilities, and emotional support as they navigate an uncertain future.
“The support from various organizations and generous individuals has been truly commendable,” Shyam says.
His words speak to the power of people coming together to care for one another. While no single organization can meet every need, working together allows local communities, churches, and humanitarian agencies to combine their resources and expertise. This helps more vulnerable families receive assistance after a disaster.
World Renew’s response to the flooding in Nepal
Although World Renew does not have ongoing programs in Nepal, trusted organizations within the Integral Alliance and their local partners were already present in affected communities when disaster struck. They began responding immediately through existing relationships, local knowledge, and emergency resources. Through support from donors, World Renew is joining Mission East and its local partner, KIRDARC, in walking alongside families as they recover and rebuild in the months ahead.
Over the next 18 months, 3,600 people in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts will receive support to help them recover from the flooding in Nepal and rebuild their lives. Families facing the greatest challenges will receive emergency cash assistance, hygiene kits, shelter support, winter clothing, and psychosocial care to help address immediate needs. Longer-term support will help households repair homes, restore livelihoods, strengthen water and sanitation systems, and prepare for future disasters.
Today, many families in Nepal are carrying the weight of profound loss. Yet thanks to generous-hearted people like you, they are not carrying it alone. Through your prayers and gifts, families are finding shelter, receiving care, and beginning the long process of rebuilding their lives.
