Survivors of the catastrophic floods in Nepal will be receiving vital emergency supplies thanks to a £50,000 grant from Herefordshire Freemasons along with other Freemasons from across the country, to the British Red Cross, who are supporting the Nepal Red Cross’ relief efforts on the ground.
The grant will be spent on shelters, water purification equipment and other relief items such as blankets, stretchers and first aid kits.
The deluge, which began on the morning of 26 August, saw a series of flash floods and debris flows along the China–Nepal border which struck dozens of settlements along a 45 mile stretch of the Trishuli River.
At least 1,259 deaths and 5,083 missing persons were confirmed in Nepal with an additional 21 dead and 541 missing in neighbouring Tibet. The flood carried the bodies of some victims 150 miles away into neighbouring India.
Hundreds of people remain missing or out of contact, many have been injured, and the death toll continues to rise. In mere moments, people have lost everything. Families in Rasuwa have seen homes, livelihoods, roads, bridges and public services washed away within hours. Surrounding areas have also faced destruction while communities remain on high alert. People are traumatised and await news of their loved one’s safety. Communications disruptions and washed-out access routes mean that it is still hard to understand the full scale of the disaster.
The Nepal Red Cross Society has supplied a generator to Dhunche – Rasuwa district’s administrative headquarters and an area badly hit by the floods – so that hundreds of people could charge their phones. This is crucial in helping survivors contact family members.
The Freemasons’ Charity is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.
Rajesh Srivastava,head of Southeast Asia Region, from the Red Cross, said:
“This generous support from the Freemasons comes at a moment when families in Nepal have lost homes, loved ones and the means to earn a living. It will help our teams and the Nepal Red Cross Society get essential shelter, clean water and relief items to people who have nothing left – and support longer term recovery so communities can rebuild their livelihoods. We’re deeply grateful for this contribution at such a critical time.”
Michael Holland the Head of Herefordshire Freemasons said:
“The disaster in Nepal has seen many survivors losing everything, facing the immediate future with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The Freemasons’ Charity is sending immediate emergency funding to the Red Cross who have their workers on the ground helping those most in need.”
