Nepal floods: Ensuring that disabled and vulnerable people are not left behind

Press Release | London, 8th September, 16:00 GMT

Humanity & Inclusion has deployed an emergency team of rehabilitation specialists to Nepal who are on the ground working to support survivors in hospitals and shelters.
The organisation aims to ensure no one is overlooked, in particular disabled and older people who have specific needs
Mobility aids and rehabilitation are urgently needed, alongside shelter, food, water and sanitation.
Mental health needs are significant, with survivors experiencing deep distress and loss.
Some communities remain completely cut off, with fears growing day by day for the situation in the upper valley.

“The scale of the destruction is making it extremely difficult to reach communities in need. Most roads and bridges have been destroyed, and access to the upper valley is currently only possible via back roads that have been reduced to muddy tracks during the rainy season. Fortunately, Humanity & Inclusion’s teams know this area well. We have been working in the region for seven years, since the 2015 earthquake, and this long-standing presence has helped us deploy quickly. Our team is working its way up the valley, assessing needs and providing essential items, mobility aids, physiotherapy and psychosocial support. We hope to reach Rasuwa in the upper valley very soon, but the area remains inaccessible for now. Reaching these isolated communities is a critical priority.” explains Tom Shelton, Executive Director of Humanity & Inclusion UK.

Importance of an inclusive humanitarian response

Nearly 1,000 people have died and more than 4,400 remain missing following devastating floods in Nepal. More than a week after the disaster, thousands of people remain displaced, while damaged roads, destroyed bridges and disrupted telecommunications are leaving some communities difficult to reach.

As the emergency response continues, Humanity & Inclusion’s teams are on the ground in Nuwakot district, one of the worst-affected areas, working with survivors and local authorities to identify needs and ensure that people with disabilities and vulnerable people are not left behind.

Humanity & Inclusion’s teams are visiting health centres and emergency shelters, paying particular attention to the needs of people with disabilities, older people, children and women.
“When we arrived in Nuwakot, we were immediately struck by the large number of people moving along the main roads, families, volunteers, armed forces and relief workers all working together. What stayed with me most was seeing the faces of those looking at lists of missing family members. I could see the hope and despair in their eyes. I saw mothers carrying their babies, trying every possible way to find their husband or children; it was a heartbreaking sight. But despite the pain, I also noticed moments of support and resilience among the people, a reminder of the strength and hope that sustain the community,” says Rabindra Shrestha, Humanity & Inclusion rehabilitation specialist and member of the team deployed to the area.

Reaching people with specific needs

For the ten thousand people displaced by the disaster, the situation remains extremely precarious. Survivors need temporary shelters, access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as food. In overcrowded conditions, special care is also needed to ensure that children and women are protected from potential violence, while authorities are monitoring the risk of disease outbreaks.

At the same time, access remains a major challenge. Many bridges have been completely destroyed, roads are damaged or blocked by debris and mudslides, and telecommunications have not yet been restored everywhere. Some areas remain completely cut off from the rest of the country.

“At present, generating accurate information is challenging due to access difficulties. The figures are continuously changing, which limits our ability to plan effective actions. We are working with our partners to advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable and are striving to set up services tailored to their specific needs. To move forward, coordinated efforts with all stakeholders are essential to reach affected populations.” Says Rabindra Shrestha.

Working closely with local authorities, Humanity & Inclusion is assessing the needs of affected communities and rehabilitation needs in healthcare centres and temporary shelters. Injured people requiring advanced and specialised care are transferred to Kathmandu, while some centres are tending to people with minor injuries who require rehabilitation.

Humanity & Inclusion has also provided around 100 mobility aids such as wheelchairs, crutches, etc. to the authorities for distribution to those in need.

“Mobility aids are difficult to access after the flood, which is why we have brought this emergency stock. We are also seeing significant mental health needs. The people we meet remind us of the deep human distress behind, the resilience, the silent suffering and the urgent need for support,” explains Rabindra Shrestha.

Significant mental health needs

In addition to functional rehabilitation services, Humanity & Inclusion has mobilised its local partners and is launching mental health and psychosocial support as well as protection services.

Humanity & Inclusion is also conducting needs assessments in some of the most inaccessible areas, such as Trishuli and Rasuwa.

Behind every story is a family crying out for help

Beyond the scale of the disaster are thousands of individual stories of loss, uncertainty and displacement.

“During our visit to a hospital, we met a group of people from Devighat who had been affected by the floods. Among them was an elderly man who had lost everything, his home, his belongings, and yet he answered our questions with a calmness that seemed almost unaffected. It was as if he had accepted the loss, showing strength in silence.

We also met a young mother and her child who hadn’t spoken a word. They just listened quietly, absorbing everything around them. When they heard about their missing husband and father, their eyes filled with tears, heavy with silent pain and heartbreak. Every person affected by the floods has a story and behind every story there is a family crying out for help.” says Rabindra Shrestha.