We are saddened by the loss of life and the devastation in the Bhotekoshi valley. Our colleagues, partners and the communities we work with in Taplejung are safe.
We are deeply saddened by the disaster that struck northern Nepal on 26 August, when a massive landslide high in the mountains sent a wall of water and debris down the Bhotekoshi river. Whole settlements in Rasuwa and Nuwakot have been swept away, along with bridges, markets, hydropower schemes and the road to the border.
Hundreds of people have lost their lives and many more are still missing. Search and rescue teams are working in appalling conditions, with damaged roads, unstable ground and poor weather grounding helicopters. Behind every one of those numbers is a family waiting for news.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected – those who have lost people they love, those whose homes and livelihoods have gone, and the rescue workers, volunteers and local officials giving everything to the response.
We know that many of our supporters will be concerned for the people and places connected to our work. Taplejung lies at the far eastern end of Nepal, a long way from the affected valleys. We have been in contact with our partners and can confirm that everyone at our partner organisations is safe and accounted for, and that the communities, schools and health facilities we support have not been affected. Our programmes are continuing as planned.
That relief does not lessen the grief we feel for those who have been hit. Nepal has faced too many disasters of this kind, and mountain communities are bearing the sharp end of a changing climate — this event began with the collapse of ice and rock high above the valley floor. We stand alongside the people of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and the border communities as they begin the long work of recovery, and we are grateful to the organisations leading the emergency response on the ground.
