How to help after Nepal and Tibet’s catastrophic floods

Damage is seen in the aftermath of flash floods in Devighat in the Nuwakot district in Nepal, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) By GLENN GAMBOA Updated 1:16 PM MESZ, August 28, 2026 Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit As rescue teams continue searching for hundreds of people missing along the Nepal-China-border" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="194284" data-entity-type="location">Nepal-China border following catastrophic floods, humanitarian organizations are mobilizing to aid survivors. Hundreds are dead or missing after a deadly torrent of water and mud several stories high swept through communities Wednesday following a glacier collapse. The Nepalese army has been using helicopters to rescue people because so many roads and bridges have been washed out. Dan Hovey, vice president of emergency response at Direct Relief, which provides medicines and healthcare to disaster-struck areas, said his organization had already pre-positioned emergency supplies in Nepal for the upcoming monsoon season. That preparation has enabled Direct Relief to help quickly during these unexpected floods. “Nepal is a very disaster-prone country,” he said. “On the disaster vulnerability indexes, it’s one of the highest – from earthquakes, floods, drought, wildfires.” In addition to the medicines and supplies already in Nepal, Direct Relief was readying more shipments to send to Nepal Thursday, said Hovey, adding that new donations would allow the nonprofit to provide more support in the months to come. “This is going to be a long recovery process,” Hovey said. Satellite images show bedrock and glacier collapsed on Nepal-China-border" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="194284" data-entity-type="location">Nepal-China border, then rivers flooded 4 MIN READ 90 floods caused by a glacial collapse kill at least 160 people on Nepal-China-border" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="194284" data-entity-type="location">Nepal-China border, hundreds missing 1 MIN READ 13 Why a newly formed lake is sparking fears of more flooding along the Nepal-China-border" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="194284" data-entity-type="location">Nepal-China border 1 MIN READ 13 Responding organizations say giving cash is currently most needed to provide local agencies and nonprofits flexible funding to continue their relief efforts. Here are some organizations aiding those on the Nepal-China-border" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="194284" data-entity-type="location">Nepal-China border, including U.S. groups responding on the ground. U.S.-based organizations already operating in Nepal All Hands & Hearts, the disaster recovery nonprofit, says it is currently providing emergency relief in Nepal, where it has worked since 2015 and plans to continue its work of rebuilding schools and homes. Catholic Relief Services, the international humanitarian agency, has partnered with Caritas Nepal to provide aid and social services, while also working to deploy its own teams to help relief efforts. Global Giving, the support nonprofit, has launched the Nepal Flood Relief Fund that it hopes will raise $1.5 million to provide flexible funding for search and rescue efforts and other emergency responses, as well as infrastructure rebuilding and other recovery projects. Humanity & Inclusion, the international victim assistance nonprofit, says it is already distributing emergency supplies and providing rehabilitation support inside local hospitals. Save the Children, the international nonprofit, says it is already delivering cooking kits, mosquito nets and blankets to 1,000 households in the region and coordinating with national and local authorities to determine how to scale its response. World Central Kitchen, Chef Jose Andres’ humanitarian nonprofit, says it is already feeding those in the region through its local partners. It plans to activate its distribution network to bring more food to the affected area. Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. GLENN GAMBOA Gamboa edits philanthropy coverage for The Associated Press and writes about nonprofits, giving and volunteerism. He is based in Cleveland. twitter mailto