Nepal Flood Relief Update
Our work on the ground continues in Nuwakot Province, Nepal, alongside our local partner Noble Compassionate Volunteers
The Rotation 2 team in Nepal
Undertaking camp improvement tasks
Recently installed water purification units
Meeting with local medical staff
Meeting with the Mayor of Bidur Municipality
The second rotation of Taskforce Kiwi volunteers in Nepal has been busy, with hands-on work at displacement camps, assessments of damaged health facilities and time spent alongside our local partners undertaking future planning to see how we can best assist in the long term following the devastating floods and landslips that took place on the 26th of August.
At Posta Bahadur camp, the team has been working to improve safety, water, sanitation and drainage. This has included digging drainage channels, improving wash points, working on toilets and access steps, and making spaces safer for children and young people.
People living at the camp have also been getting involved, working alongside TFK, our partner NCV Nepal and other local volunteers. Having the community involved is an important part of the work, helping make improvements that will benefit residents beyond the team's time at the camp.
The team has also delivered water filtration systems to a small school and taken part in training on those systems. There has been plenty of work happening behind the scenes too, with ongoing discussions and planning with local organisations as the team works through the needs identified on the ground.
Visits to some of the worst-affected areas have given the team a clearer picture of the damage caused by the floods and landslips, as well as the difficulties people face getting to essential services.
One of the health facilities assessed by the team is across a river. Getting there meant crossing by flying fox, then continuing by rickshaw and on foot. The alternative road journey can take around five hours each way. For communities already dealing with the effects of the disaster, getting to medical care and other essential services can be a challenge in itself.
The team has been undertaking assessments of local health facilities to find out what has been damaged and what support might be possible. At one facility, landslips have caused soil to enter underground water storage, creating further problems with water and sanitation.
There is a lot to work through, and TFK won't be able to address every need identified. The priority is to find areas where the team can make a practical difference, working with local organisations that understand their communities and what is needed.
Our partnership with NCV Nepal has been the key aspect of our response. Alongside the physical work, TFK has been helping with planning and coordination to support local teams and keep projects moving.
The team is also looking beyond the areas already receiving assistance. Some communities remain cut off, and there are concerns about people in more remote areas who may have received little support to date. Reaching these places will take time, particularly with roads and access routes damaged, but the team is continuing to explore what can be done.
Back in New Zealand, fundraising for the response has continued. The Annapurna Community group held a fundraising dinner in Tauranga on the 4th of October, with over $14,000 raised to date, which will be split evenly between Taskforce Kiwi and the Prime Minister of Nepal’s Disaster Relief Fund, and we’re incredibly grateful for their support.
Getting a team into the field takes a lot of support behind the scenes. From travel arrangements and equipment to fundraising and logistics, there are plenty of people helping make the deployment happen. Our partners have also played an invaluable role; Airlink has enabled our volunteers to get to Nepal, while support from Macpac for equipment and Zoleo for GPS tracking has increased safety for our volunteers in an arduous environment.
With our first rotation of volunteers now at home, and our second rotation well into their deployment, we’re continuing to assess what ongoing support we can provide with the resources available. There is still plenty to do, with the rebuild not yet started, and our volunteers will continue to support NCV for as long as we can.
Thank you to everyone who has supported our Nepal response, whether through donations, equipment, fundraising or helping behind the scenes. We couldn't do this work without you.
If you would like to support our work in Nepal, you can donate through our Givealittle page, or through the bank details below. Every contribution helps us continue providing direct support to communities affected by the disaster.
Bank: Kiwibank
Account Name: Taskforce Kiwi
Account Number: 38-9024-0402670-00
