Caritas Internationalis on Nepal: ‘We must all face the climate chaos’

Vatican News

It has been a week since flash floods ripped through the Rasuwa district of Nepal. The latest figures report that more than 1,100 people have died and almost 5,000 are still missing.

Caritas Nepal has been on the ground responding to the needs and offering support for those affected, providing food, essential supplies and other emergency assistance. However, heavy rain and damaged roads have made it difficult to access some of the impacted areas.

Infrastructure in the Rasuwa district of Nepal has been damaged due to the flash flood   (© Caritas Nepal)

For example, it took a Caritas team about 18 hours to reach its destination in Nuwakot due to muddy roads and devastated infrastructure.

Service to the communities

In spite of the challenges, Caritas Nepal has been able to offer ready-to-eat meals to kitchens in over 50 communities, emergency shelter and essential household items to 1,000 families, and sanitation and hygiene kits and solar lighting and charging facilities.

Moreover, the organization is gearing up to increase its aid to help 4,000 families.

Caritas Nepal has been able to offer ready-to-eat meals to kitchens in over 50 communities   (© Caritas Nepal)

In a statement, the Executive Director of Caritas Nepal, Sister Cecilia Durga Shrestha, stressed how the teams are focused on “feeding displaced families, working hand in hand with our local emergency partners, networks and disaster management committees.”

“There are communities who have fled to higher ground and are now staying with host families. Reaching them is extremely difficult, while food supplies are running out,” explained Arpana Karki, Programme Coordinator for Caritas Nepal’s Disaster Management Department.

In this case, the only way to reach these communities is by helicopter, which are in high demand and limited in number.

Damaged roads have made it difficult to reach some of the areas affected   (© Caritas Nepal)

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For families who have been displaced and searching for safer areas, Caritas is also providing support. The organization is preparing longer-term assistance, such as cash-for-work, rent assistance, debris clearance, temporary learning areas for children, and livelihood recovery.

The Caritas Nepal staff has identified 56 orphaned children staying in overcrowded shelters and the organization has offered to place them in safe areas while the communities rebuild.

Climate change means a call to action

For Caritas Internationalis, the disaster in Nepal reveals a deep climate injustice. “Nepal contributes less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet its Himalayan communities are facing increasingly dangerous climate-related risks,” Sister Cecilia stressed in her message for the World Day of Prayer for Creation.

A sudden release of water, ice, and debris following the glacial dam breaking and the lake collapsed into the Bhote Koshi river led to the devastating flash flood. Scientists have warned that rising temperatures are increasing instability across the Himalayas.

Caritas Internationalis called the situation in Nepal a stark reminder that oftentimes people who have contributed the least to global emissions are among those who suffer the great effects.

Alistair Dutton, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis, expressed his sadness at the death toll and destruction following the flood. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have died or are suffering as a result,” he said.

Caritas Nepal is is gearing up to increase its aid to help 4,000 families   (© Caritas Nepal)

The Secretary General pointed to the extreme heat Europe has been living with all summer. “We must all face the climate chaos that is so evident all around us and commit to do what is necessary to care for our common home,” he stressed.

It is essential to draw attention to climate change because, Dutton argued, “the consequences of not dealing with it will be dreadful for all of us, particularly those like the people of Nepal, who have done so little to create this climate emergency.”

He challenged all countries who have gained from carbon-based energy systems to “step up and accept our responsibility for the chaos and harm that we are now seeing in every corner of the globe.”