On 26 August, a series of devastating flash floods swept through the upper reaches of the Trishuli River in Nepal, severely affecting dozens of settlements in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, near the border with China.

The flood of water, mud and debris has caused at least 470 confirmed deaths in Nepal, while search and rescue operations continue.

According to figures from early Friday morning (28 August), over 1,500 people are still missing. Among the missing are many foreign tourists who were in the area at the time of the disaster.

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The geological event that triggered the tragedy was of such a scale that seismographs in Germany recorded the tremor that caused it. Investigations are still underway to determine whether the flood was caused by an earthquake or by a landslide triggered by an ice avalanche that blocked the river's course near the Tibetan border before suddenly giving way, triggering the flood downstream.

The mountainous terrain of the area has hindered rescue operations: some communities are only accessible by helicopter, while many roads and bridges have been destroyed, cutting off access by land.

Evangelical humanitarian aid

Various evangelical organisations specialising in emergency aid have reacted to the disaster in Nepal.

Send Relief, the humanitarian response branch of the Southern Baptist Convention in the United States, has launched a support campaign through partner churches and local believers who live in the affected valleys.

According to its website, the organisation has been distributing food parcels containing rice, lentils, oil and salt, and first-aid kits to the hardest-hit communities, as well as providing basic tents for families who have lost their homes.

Trucks leave before dawn to reach the farthest communities still accessible by road while there is daylight.

Distribution is being carried out directly by local Christians who know their neighbours. “The church is already there, and it will still be there long after the water is gone”, says Send Relief in its press release.

The Christian humanitarian aid organisation World Relief has also mobilised, working to connect with local partners and deliver food, water and supplies to those affected.

Meanwhile, World Vision has reported that it is in close contact with the Nepalese authorities and humanitarian coordination mechanisms, and is prepared to respond if the government requests it.

The organisation stresses the special vulnerability of displaced children, who are at risk of family separation, disruption to essential services, and an urgent need for water, food, and shelter.

Within the Pentecostal community, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) has confirmed that although its missionaries and local partners are safe, the home of a family from its congregation has been seriously damaged.

Through its People to People Ministries branch, the IPHC is raising funds to support its brothers and sisters in Nepal with immediate expenses and the first steps towards recovery.

Reaching where others cannot

The UN has reported that World Health Organization staff are already on the ground with enough medical equipment to treat 10,000 people for three months, as well as tents and logistical support.

The US State Department has also announced the deployment of a disaster response adviser, as well as a $500,000 contribution channelled through Catholic Relief Services to provide emergency shelter, essential supplies, and drinking water.

Within this broad response framework, evangelical organisations provide networks of trust built up over many years in remote Himalayan communities.

Send Relief sums this up in its call to pray “for churches and believers in Nepal serving their neighbors — that they would bring real comfort and share the hope of Jesus”.