(ANS – Mugling) – On 26 August, a sudden surge in the Bhote Koshi River, on the border between Nepal and Tibet, triggered by the collapse of a glacial mass and an ice avalanche, caused a devastating flood in the districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan. The force of the water, accompanied by mud and debris (with some waves reportedly reaching heights of 8–10 metres), swept through the town of Mugling, destroying entire villages, roads and infrastructure. Faced with this emergency, the Salesians were quick to provide a concrete response.
The conditions in which they are operating are far from straightforward. Rescue workers, hampered by the destruction, continue to search for survivors. To date, the death toll stands at over 1,200 and more than 4,200 people are still missing, according to the latest figures released by the Nepalese disaster management authority. Thousands of people have lost everything. The lack of safe water and adequate hygiene further increases the risk of disease and infection, particularly in places where displaced people are forced to live in overcrowded conditions. Two pupils from a Salesian school have lost their parents, and many other families are in the affected areas. Fortunately, the Salesian communities have not been directly affected.
The Salesian response
From the very outset, the Salesians mobilised a team from the “Nepal Don Bosco Society” to tackle the emergency and coordinate aid for the displaced, beginning to collect food and relief supplies to store them in local collection centres and distribute them as quickly as possible. The team met with local authorities, secured the necessary coordination and approval for emergency response activities, carried out a rapid assessment of emergency needs and beneficiaries, and established a mechanism for delivering immediate assistance to the most vulnerable families.
Currently, the missionaries have managed to reach Bidur Town Hall in Nuwakot, but have been unable to continue on to Timure and Rasuwa due to a sudden rise in the river level, which has further damaged the already compromised road. For this reason, the army is organising the distribution of relief supplies to inaccessible areas, using helicopters where road transport is no longer possible. The Salesians are working on a strategic and operational plan to coordinate emergency response, future reconstruction and the socio-economic recovery of the affected area.
For further information, including on how to support the displaced population in the wake of this immense tragedy, please visit the “Missioni Don Bosco” website.
