Countless dead and thousands missing in Nepal. Our teams went in anyway.
EMERGENCY: Nepal's Bhotekoshi Glacial Flood
On 26 August, Nepal was struck by one of the worst glacial floods in its recent history. We have supported our grantees on the ground since the first day. This is a special edition of our newsletter — focused entirely on what happened, what our grantees are doing, and why we still need your support.
Nepal's Bhotekoshi Glacial Flood
On 26 August, a glacier collapse near Langtang Lirung sent a wall of water and debris tearing through Nepal's Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. The Lhende tributary of the Bhotekoshi River burst, sweeping through villages like Timure, Syabrubesi, Rasuwagadhi, et. al. destroying roads, bridges, and homes. The death toll has surpassed 700. Over four and a half thousand people remain missing.
And in the middle of all of it, thousands of animals were left without anyone coming for them. Three Help Animals India grantees are on the ground.
Sneha's Care in Kathmandu Valley mobilised immediately, working alongside Nepal Animal Welfare Research Center, KAT UK, and Voice of Animal Nepal to reach animals in the worst-affected areas. Access has been brutal, electricity and phone networks were down across entire districts, rivers blocked the routes into Rasuwa and Betrabati, and teams had to find alternative ways in while the situation was still unfolding.
Animal Nepal in Kathmandu deployed two multi-disciplinary teams, large and small animal vets and technicians providing emergency veterinary care, animal feed, and essential supplies. Their response is Phase 1 of what will be a sustained effort.
Magic Marble Foundation has also been part of the response on the ground; collecting relief material, coordinating with the Nepal Veterinary Association for joint relief efforts, and teaming up with government teams to provide relief and supplies to affected areas.
This is not a short-term crisis. What follows a disaster of this scale takes weeks, sometimes months; veterinary treatment, feed supply, ongoing support for families trying to hold their lives and their animals together at the same time.
Donate to help our grantees sustain their work in Nepal
Thousands of animal bodies need to be managed safely; not only for the dignity of the animals and their communities, but to prevent disease and contamination from spreading through flood-hit areas.
Animal Nepal is already supplying quicklime and salt to the Government Veterinary Office in Nuwakot, and will continue as needed. Your support will help them procure more lime.
Rs. 470 (about USD 5.00) from 26 teenagers who decided that what they had was worth giving.
The Spirit of Giving
Twenty-six Class 9 students from Shree Secondary School in Prempur, Rautahat, collected between Rs. 10 and Rs. 50 each; Rs. 470 in total and donated it to the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund for those affected by Nepal's floods.
There is nothing more to add to that. It speaks for itself. And it is a reminder that solidarity, in a crisis, does not have a minimum amount.
The immediate threat of the floods is over, but conditions remain unsafe. This disaster is cataclysmic. The danger of further flooding remains. The suffering and loss are hard to imagine.
Our grantees will keep going for as long as they are needed. Please help us keep them going.
Thank you for standing with Nepal's animals. Thank you for making sure someone showed up for them.
With gratitude,
The Help Animals India Team
