Mercy Corps Reaches Flood-Affected Communities in Nepal, Begins Emergency Aid Distributions

September 01, 2026

Mercy Corps teams have reached flood-affected communities in Nepal’s Nuwakot district and are beginning to distribute emergency food kits and hygiene supplies to families displaced by last week’s catastrophic flash floods. 

Working alongside local partners and through the government-led response, Mercy Corps staff have visited emergency evacuations centers and spoken directly with survivors. Families say they urgently need food, clothing, and basic hygiene supplies. The first Mercy Corps distributions will support 300 families (approximately 1,500 people) with food kits that include staples such as rice, oil, and noodles. Mercy Corps will also provide hygiene kits for adolescents and baby care kits containing essential items such as clothing, blankets, soap, and diapers for an additional 300 people initially.  

The team in Nuwakot reports that reaching communities is extremely difficult. Roads and highways have been badly damaged, and bridges washed away, forcing relief supplies to travel in multiple smaller vehicles. In Bidur, the team has seen widespread disruption to electricity and running water, with food increasingly difficult to find in local markets mainly in the western side of Bhotekoshi/Trishuli river. With market supply chains disrupted, remaining stocks are rapidly depleting, and prices are rising, making essential goods increasingly difficult for families to afford. 

Nearly a week after a powerful surge of water, mud, and debris tore through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors, the scale of the disaster continues to grow. As of Tuesday, over 1,000 people have been killed with thousands still missing. With the monsoon season still ongoing and concerns about further flooding upstream, which additionally could worsen conditions and cut off more routes. 

Suraj Sigdel, Mercy Corps Nepal Country Director, says: 

“Our teams are meeting families who are grieving, exhausted, and increasingly distressed as they wait for assistance and news of loved ones. People survived an unimaginable wall of water and debris, only to be left without homes, belongings, or access to basic services. The destruction is immense, but what families need most right now is food, clean water, safe shelter, and hygiene supplies. 

“Delivering that assistance is an enormous logistical challenge. Every washed-out bridge or damaged stretch of road adds time and distance between supplies and the people waiting for them. Even local authorities have lost offices and are trying to coordinate a massive response with limited resources. With the monsoon not over, conditions could change again overnight.” 

Notes to editors 

  • Mercy Corps’ first round of food kit distributions will support 300 families (approximately 1,500 people). Additional adolescent hygiene kits and baby care kits will support an additional 300 people as we continue to scale up our response.  
  • We have photos available from our team in Nuwakot in recent days available for media use here, with credit to Mercy Corps, upon request. 
  • For How to Help lists, we are accepting donations here. 
  • Mercy Corps has worked in Nepal since 2005, responding to earthquakes, floods and landslides and helping communities strengthen disaster preparedness, early-warning systems and climate resilience. 

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