“Disaster is a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’…”

On Wednesday 26th August, a huge section ⁠of a glacier in the Himalayas sheared free and fell over 1,000m to the valley floor, near the Nepal-Tibet border. The collapse, so powerful it registered as a 5.3 magnitude earthquake, triggered a huge release of water, mud, rock and ice that swept through four districts to the north and west of Kathmandu (a district is like a county in the UK). The massive flash flood, initially up to 20 metres high, swept away everything in its path including entire communities. At the time of writing, over 1,400 people are confirmed dead and almost 6,000 are still missing. Alongside that, thousands of homes and other buildings have been destroyed or damaged, 41 motorable bridges destroyed, 13 hydropower plants ruined and several miles of roads washed away.

The scenes of devastation and the heart-breaking stories are almost too much to take in: people helpless as family members were lost in front of their eyes; children who were safe in school, only for their parents to be swept away.

The organisation that we are seconded to, HDCS, immediately began to arrange to send relief supplies to the affected areas and since then it has been a very busy time for all involved. As a team, we have been monitoring requests for help, purchasing supplies and packing them, loading trucks, attending lots of coordination meetings and keeping up with all the necessary paperwork and financial management. Up to now, HDCS has sent 13 truckloads of various sorts of relief supplies, according to the requests for help received from people in the affected areas: food, clothes, mattresses, blankets, pillows, solar lights, water filters, mosquito nets, mosquito repellent, soap, wheelchairs and stretchers, to name just a few!

To make sure that the supplies don't all end up in one place whilst other areas are left out, or that unnecessary items are sent and then unused, the government operates a 'one-door' policy in the event of such disasters. This means that all organisations must register with the government and coordinate with the local authorities in the affected areas, who monitor and allocate resources as they see necessary. Our staff also attend the distribution of the supplies we send to ensure fairness and for our record keeping!

We are now turning our attention to how we can help in the long term. Donations HDCS has received have been used for the relief supplies, but there is enough to support ongoing effective recovery efforts too. We will be supporting the rehabilitation of schools and health facilities, which will be done over the next two years. The news often only focusses on the immediate aftermath of such a disaster, but it is the long-term recovery that is equally important.

Away from the flood work, Megan has also attended another 'Joni and Friends' wheelchair camp. This time it took place in the hot and humid southern area of the country, for a week. In total there was a team of 5 therapists and 6 mechanics who assessed the patients, adjusted wheelchairs and trained the users, and a whole host of volunteers who looked after everyone who was invited. In total 235 people were assessed by a qualified therapist of whom 186 received wheelchairs and 62 got assistive devices (walkers, crutches, walking sticks). For those who like neat maths some got a wheelchair and a device 😊.

It is a very poor area with considerable numbers suffering from malnutrition. According to one of the local castes, though, the more children one has the more one is seen to be blessed by the gods. We saw several large families where the later children were born with genetic deformities, which is most likely due to such malnutrition (e.g. one family with 9 children with the last 3 children having seriously stunted growth and mobility issues). So sad to see, but we were at least able to provide them with comfortable and supportive wheelchairs and also to give some basic food and hygiene support.

For Megan, a big and positive difference with this programme was that it was in collaboration with a local government office. They were amazing and really want to see these people get better treatment and support advocating for them to get the disability cards they are entitled to and the benefits that brings (monthly allowance and cheaper or even free travel).

It was also a joy to be working with and encouraging two young Nepali therapists as well as encouraging young people from local churches to learn more about disability and how they can help and support people with disabilities

For those of you that pray please remember:

The HDCS team as we plan for the recovery phases of our flood response, that we will be wise in our use of the donations received in order to help the maximum number of people in the best possible way.

For strength and good time management as we deal with all of that on top of our regular work – which was full enough!

For the government of Nepal to also be wise in the way they support the recovery work.

For the rains to stop soon so there will be no more floods or landslides this year.

We give thanks for:

All the supporters and partners who have generously given to the flood relief and response.

For a successful wheelchair camp and for all the people that now have increased mobility and a better quality of life.

As always, we thank you for your interest and support.

Alan and Megan xx