Cork's Nepalese community fund-raising after devastating floods on Tibetan border

The Nepalese community in Cork has had a difficult few days watching from afar following the devastating flash floods in their homeland.

The catastrophic flooding, which swept through the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday, has already claimed hundreds of lives and with rescue missions still ongoing.

Yuvaraj Khatri, president of the Cork Nepalese Community (CNC) Ireland group, told The Echo that the last few days have been very worrying for its members.

“It is tough on any of us living in Cork – or anywhere in Ireland," he said, adding that the group has been in contact with community members, offering support where it can.

Yuvaraj cannot call this type of flooding ever happening in the past in the region. 

"There was a big earthquake back in 2015, but nothing like this kind of flood. We get loads of landslides in Nepal during this time of season, because of the rain and because of the hills."

He does recall instances where local roads were blocked by debris from the mountains, but not floods.

Mr Khatri added that thankfully his own family back in Nepal are safe and were not caught up in the events of last week.

“My home place in Nepal is as far away from flooded area, and I don't think it will reach there, because we are in a remote area. But still, they have been told to stay away from the river.” 

Mr Khatris said the government in Nepal have been constantly sending out alerts and advice, including phone notifications to tell people to stay in a safe place. They have also been initiating chopper rescue flights to take people out of the affected and threatened areas.

Mr Khatri said that Cork's Nepalese community is currently raising funds to help support the communities back home, and the areas which have been impacted.

“We have raised some and we are still looking for more assistance," he said, adding that the Nepalese government is also helping communities in the flooded regions with aid.