Nepal’s glacier collapse floods and the organizations providing relief

On the morning of August 26, an ice-and-rock avalanche in the Himalayas near the Nepal-Tibet border triggered a glacial lake outburst flood along the Trishuli River. Water levels rose 9 meters in 30 minutes. By the time the surge reached the valley floor, it had swept through a 72-kilometer stretch of the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, taking out more than 19 bridges, over 40 kilometers of road, and 13 hydropower projects. Towns including Timure, Syafrubesi, Dhunche, Mailung, Betrawati, and Bidur were hit within minutes of one another. 

More than 390 people are confirmed dead across Nepal and Tibet, and over 2,500 are missing, including 517 foreign nationals. The floods struck at the peak of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, when the Rasuwagadhi-Kyirong crossing carries thousands of Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims from across South Asia. Among the missing are 177 Indians, roughly 100 Chinese nationals, 63 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons, and 25 Canadians. 

The response is constrained by the geography itself. Primary access routes are gone, and the worst-hit zones can only be reached by helicopter. The Nepal Army has deployed 13,295 personnel and airlifted 716 people on August 27 alone. Dhulikhel Hospital is receiving evacuated patients, and Kathmandu has become the primary receiving hub for displaced families. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an official disaster relief appeal, and the United Nations released $2 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund. 

But the emergency is not over. An upstream barrier lake holding roughly 2 million cubic meters of water is expected to reach 5 million cubic meters by August 30, with three more days of rain in the forecast. Communities downstream in the Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan districts remain at risk. 

The Lhende Khola system has flooded repeatedly in recent years, and each event lands on remote communities with the fewest evacuation options and the longest road back. Though Nepal contributes a fraction of a percent of global emissions, the country ranks among the most climate-vulnerable places in the world. It will take years for the region to recover from this level of devastation. 

Where to send help in Nepal 

These Nepal-based organizations are working directly in the affected districts, with the community relationships and local knowledge that make relief reach the right households first. 

• PHASE Nepal: Conducting on-the-ground needs assessments alongside local communities and distributing essential items in the hardest-hit regions.  

• Al Ehsan Charitable Foundation Nepal: Working in Rasuwa to provide families with food, clean drinking water, temporary shelter, medication, medical assistance, and hygiene kits. 

• Community Development Center Nepal: Providing affected families with food, clean drinking water, hygiene items, warm clothing, temporary shelter, and other essential supplies.

• Angat Buhay Foundation USA Inc: A program of the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines former VP Leni Robredo in the fight against poverty.

• Rural Education & Development Inc: A nonprofit operating community library and resource centers across rural South Asia — with active operations in Nepal, India, and Bhutan.

Organizations confirmed responding on the ground 

We’re proud to highlight these organizations, several of them Bonterra customers, mobilizing relief for communities across the Trishuli corridor. 

• World Central Kitchen: Serving fresh meals to first responders and displaced families across the affected districts. 

• International Rescue Committee: Confirmed deploying to Nepal, with active disaster recovery, health, and displacement programs. 

• Direct Relief: Issued an emergency grant to Mountain Heart Nepal and pre-positioned medical supplies in country ahead of the surge. 

• American Red Cross: Supporting the Nepal Red Cross Society, the lead responder for shelter, clothing, and food distribution in the affected districts.  

Additional organizations mobilizing relief 

These organizations are responding across health, food, shelter, child protection, and long-term rebuilding. 

• All Hands and Hearts: Confirmed deploying, with a presence in Nepal dating back to the 2015 earthquake response. 

• Americares: Confirmed medical response, delivering health supplies and clinical support to affected communities.  

• CARE: Building a coordinated response in partnership with local bodies in the affected districts.  

• Catholic Relief Services: Confirmed on the ground through Caritas Nepal, with a focus on disability-inclusive disaster recovery.  

• Convoy of Hope: Disaster response organization mobilizing food, water, and emergency supplies.  

• Global Empowerment Mission: Asia team mobilized, drawing on prior Nepal earthquake response experience.  

• GlobalGiving: Running an active Nepal Flood Relief Fund that channels donations to vetted local organizations.  

• Matthew 25: Ministries: Humanitarian relief organization with a confirmed history of responding in Nepal.  

• Mercy Corps: Confirmed responder, operating in Nepal since 2005.  

• Samaritan’s Purse: International relief organization providing emergency supplies and medical support.  

• Save the Children: Confirmed response focused on displaced children and the families sheltering them. 

• UNICEF USA: Focused on the child protection, education, and mental health needs of displaced families. 

• World Food Program USA: Providing logistical assistance and initial food rations to affected communities, with capacity to scale as needs grow.  

Bonterra’s extended customer service and nonprofit directory 

Nonprofits: In addition to maintaining a directory of verified nonprofits to support, we’re offering reduced-cost and free services to further aid our nonprofit customers on the ground. Reach out for help creating new donation campaigns, accessing discounted software expansion licenses, or being added to our directory. Contact your Account Executive or email [email protected] today. 

Funders: If your team needs assistance using our platform to mobilize employees or direct grants to nonprofits, please reach out to your Customer Success Manager or Account Executive. Together, we can support those in need and help communities recover from this catastrophic event. 

Additional resources 

• Fundraising appeal template: Email template for employee giving 

• Bonterra program overview video: Disaster relief & limited campaigns 

• Increase impact with a data-driven disaster response: Review the case study 

• Community Relief Impact Playbook: A long-term planning resource