Samaritan’s Purse is working through trusted partners to distribute relief to families affected by the unprecedented flash flooding that killed hundreds and displaced thousands in Nepal.
Narayan was at home eating breakfast with his family when he received a phone call from a friend who told him that a major flood was headed toward his hometown of Devighat. A chicken farmer by trade, he peered out the window at his coops below and watched the Trishuli river start to rise.
Narayan had to flee his home with his family. His house and livelihood were swept away.
“At first, the river started overflowing slowly, but within two minutes, my entire poultry farm was completely swept away by the flood,” he said. “That’s when we realized we couldn’t stay home any longer.”
Narayan ushered his family out the door and fled with them to higher ground. They watched as the raging floodwaters not only washed away his livelihood of 1,300 chickens, but also destroyed the two-story home where he had raised his two children.
Meeting Critical Needs
The August 26 flash flood was triggered by a major glacial collapse near the Nepal–China border. It pushed a tidal wave south along the Lende Khola and Trishuli̇ Khola rivers. What at first looked like a black cloud quickly became a surging dark wall of water, rock, and ice.
Samaritan’s Purse teams and local partners invited residents to gather supplies delivered to the country by our 767 cargo plane.
Gaining speed and momentum, the avalanche-like floodwaters swelled and traveled over 60 miles, affecting multiple northern Nepali districts and claiming more than 1,400 lives.
“Little by little, all the money I’d earned over so many years was lost,” Narayan said. “I have to start again from zero.”
In response to the catastrophic event, Samaritan’s Purse deployed a team of disaster relief specialists who began coordinating with local authorities and Christian partners on the ground to provide relief in Jesus’ Name. In addition to procuring supplies locally, our 767-cargo plane landed in Nepal carrying over 80,000 pounds of relief, including hygiene kits, solar lights, water filters, and more.
Residents of the region have a long recovery ahead of them.
“These villages have been absolutely decimated,” said Darren Tosh, Samaritan’s Purse team lead. “So, we are here to be able to start to bring some hope back to those communities with some emergency relief.”
Working through several Christian groups and churches, teams began hosting distributions throughout three of the hardest hit districts.
“Our partners have an ambition to be able to serve these communities in Jesus’ Name, being a witness through their actions and through their compassion as they end up helping these families recover,” Tosh said.
When Narayan arrived at a distribution hosted by one our partners, he was thankful to receive shelter plastic, a blanket, hygiene kit, and solar light, among other items.
Narayan was especially grateful for a water filter and jerry bucket, as his family had no access to clean water for several days after the flood.
“We had a reserve tank we had for the chickens, and we drank that water for six days,” he said. “The water filter will be helpful.”
Having served in the Nepali army for 17 years, Narayan is determined to stay strong for his family and rebuild their future.
“I am not defeated,” he said. “I can get back up again.”
Devanand Kadariya is with Nepal Baptist Church Council, one of our trusted partners. He also serves on Nepal’s national leadership team with Operation Christmas Child, a Samaritan’s Purse project.
For him, meeting with beneficiaries like Narayan is an opportunity to tangibly demonstrate the love of Christ.
“We love people as Christ loves people, whether they’re Christian or not Christian,” Kadariya said. “It’s our duty to love our neighbor as ourselves, and this is an opportunity to go and help people in need.”
Hope for the Weary
Rameswori deeply misses the home she once had in the city of Bhaise, Nepal. She was alone when the unprecedented 30-foot wall of water ravaged her hometown, killing two of her relatives.
Rameswori is grateful for the help of God’s people as she continues to remember the devastating flooding.
“I dream about the flood every night, and I have fear in my heart whenever I have that dream,” she said.
At first, Rameswori didn’t believe her sister when she said the waters were coming her way, but when she eventually made her way outside, the water was already rising.
“When the flood got close, I stepped outside and everyone had already left the area and gone somewhere safe,” she said. “I did my best to get away from there and managed to reach the road.”
For years, Rameswori had been dealing with knee pain and had also recently fractured her foot, so she was grateful when a neighbor grabbed her hand and helped her to higher ground. She watched as the flash flood swept her home away.
“My house was a very beautiful house–full of gardens, full of flowers. It was like a resort,” she said. “Remembering that house, my heart breaks all over again.”
Rameswori needed more than physical relief; she also needed encouragement. When she arrived at one of our distributions, she was grateful to receive both.
“The support that the flood victims and I received today has given us hope,” she said. The essential aid was a reminder that her community had not been forgotten. “It has given relief to us and our people. So, we are very thankful.”
Encouraging the Body of Christ
The catastrophic flash flood came just over 10 years after the Himalayan nation was rocked by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that killed around 9,000 people. Samaritan’s Purse immediately responded with critical aid and medical support, and stayed for three years helping communities rebuild, including Pastor Ishwor’s new church.
Water, mud, and debris covered towns in the narrow valleys.
“I have been praying that Samaritan’s Purse would come back again and help,” said Ishwor Pudasaini, who has been pastoring a church in the Nuwakot District for 25 years.
“When our church collapsed during the earthquake, Samaritan’s Purse helped by sending volunteers and the materials for a new church building,” he said. “Not only did they help our church, but they helped the community outside the church as well.”
When Pastor Ishwor learned that Samaritan’s Purse was coming to Devighat–the city he grew up in–to distribute relief items and share the hope of Jesus Christ, he was relieved to know he was not alone.
“As a pastor and a leader of my church who is worried about this community, I am very grateful when I meet people like Samaritan’s Purse, because it gives me the confidence and the courage to fight against this crisis,” he said. “And I know that I am not alone in restoring this community.”
Please pray as our partners continue to reach flood-ravaged communities, providing hope and relief in Jesus’ Name.
