Emergency Response: Nepal Floods

Reaching the Villages No One Else Is Reaching

Dear followers, friends, family, donors and fundraisers around the world!

When the floods hit Nepal, rescue teams poured into the epicentre almost immediately, and that's exactly as it should be. But it also meant something else became clear to our team on the ground very fast: the smaller, rural communities further out were being left behind. No cameras, no convoys, just families and animals trying to survive with nothing.

Khageshwaar, born and raised in Nepal and with Action Change for over 15 years, has stepped up to oversee our emergency support work on the ground, and being local himself, he really is the best man for the job.

With our strong local connections and our team already in Nepal, we made a call. Instead of adding to the crowd at the epicentre, we would go where help wasn't arriving yet. Animals and communities are what we do, so that's exactly where we focused our energy.

Right now, safe drinking water is critical. That's the number one thing standing between these villages and a much bigger health crisis, so getting clean water out to these communities is front and centre of what our team is doing.

We also know we can't do this alone, and we're not trying to. Our team is signposting affected families to the other services and support available to them, making sure no one is left without knowing where to turn. And alongside the emergency response, we're sitting down with the people who live here, talking and listening to what they've been through and what they actually need. That's how we build a stronger, more grounded plan to help these communities rebuild their lives, not by guessing, but by listening.

Tupche, Bidur Municipality, Ward No. 7

This village is heartbreaking. Not a single animal survived here. Our team is on the ground helping the community from today lay these animals to rest safely, because with this many lives lost, the risk of disease spreading through the village is very real and very high. It's tough, physical, essential work, and our team didn't hesitate.

Sealtanki, Ward No. 9, Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot District

Today our team also reached Sealtanki, a village in Nuwakot district. A police officer has been deployed alongside our team, and everyone is already in action.

Most villagers here have left their homes altogether, taking shelter in a school at higher ground where it's safer. Our team is working through the village, laying animals that were lost to rest with care, which is urgent work to protect the community from disease before it can take hold. We're also at the school listening to those affected, an ear in a time of crisis is just as important.

While our team was out in the villages, a woman approached them. She said everyone around her, all her neighbours, were in distress too, and she didn't know who else to ask for help. Seeing our young team on the ground, she came over.

She told them about the moment the river turned violent. She held on to a mango tree and didn't let go. She says that tree saved her life.

Nearby, a cow had somehow survived too, one of the lucky few. She's unwell now, and our vets are examining her to see what care she needs.

Stories like this are exactly why our team decided to go where the cameras weren't. Behind every village name is a person like her, and an animal like that cow, still standing because someone held on.

So Who's Out There For Us?

Our team on this mission is nine locally born and raised individuals, including two vets, and they're carrying everything they can to make a real difference on arrival:

• Veterinary medicines and medical supplies for sick, injured, and distressed animals
• Lime and salt, so animals that have died can be laid to rest safely
• Animal feed (chapat) to keep surviving animals going
• Sanitary pads for the women and girls affected
• Clean, safe drinking water
• Emergency supplies

This first visit is both an assessment and a relief mission, we're here for the long haul. Our team needs to see exactly what's needed on the ground before we can bring in the bigger supplies, and that's happening right now, village by village, and for this we also really need your support, as these supplies are not free.

Next stop, the team is aiming to reach Baghtar / Colony in Nuwakot, one of the harder hit areas still waiting for help. We'll keep pushing to the places that need us most, and hope to arrive by Wednesday morning.

More updates to follow as our team moves further into the region. We thank Khageshwaar and the team for sharing these updates while working around the clock on the ground.

Thank you for your support!

Tyrone, Khageshwaar and the whole Action Change Family.