A note from Ian and Tay, long-time residents of Nepal
I am sure many of you have seen the flood disaster that hit Nepal five days ago. The first videos I saw of the disaster were so overwhelming that I thought they were AI. I wanted to share some information about the best place to donate to help people affected in Nepal, if you are so inclined.
As many of you know, I lived in Nepal for 11 years and continued to work there for another 10 years or so. If you have travelled, trekked, climbed, skied, kayaked, or gone on an art tour in Nepal, then you know it is a special part of the world — wonderful people, incredible culture, and of course, the Himalaya.
I wrote to you in 2015, Nepal Needs Our Help, after the huge earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people and left many more homeless. That one hit us hard, as a village we knew well, Langtang, was completely buried in an earthquake-triggered avalanche that killed almost everyone in the village. Both Tay and I knew many of those people.
Five days ago, a huge chunk of glacier peeled off the north side of Langtang Lirung and sent a devastating flood — 150 feet high — down the river, wiping out everything in its path. The customs building on the border with Tibet, as well as many villages and market towns downstream, were destroyed. This was the busiest trade route between Nepal and Tibet/China, and also the starting point for trekking into the Langtang Valley and Langtang National Park.
After the 2015 earthquake, Nepal focused on creating a high-quality disaster relief plan, and it is now being put into action for this flood. The good news is that the current government of Nepal is the best the country has had in a very long time. My connections in Nepal tell me that the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund is doing amazing work and accepting donations. The army, police, and rescue units are on the ground distributing food and clothing and helping with shelter.
You can donate to the fund directly here: https://pmdrf.nchl.com.np
If you would like a tax receipt in Canada, you can donate through CORE, a registered Canadian charity that helps the very poor and disadvantaged communities in Nepal. It is run by an old friend, Frances Klatzel. The website is https://core-international.org/— just ask them to direct your donation to the PM Disaster Relief Fund, and they will send it to Nepal, and you will receive a Canadian tax receipt.
Best to all of you, and I hope this helps a bit for those who were wondering how to help. It is not easy to find the best way to donate money to a cause like this. In 2015, we donated to another agency, but this time we feel the PM Disaster Relief Fund is the best way to go.
Sincerely, Ian and Tay
Owners/Operators, Wells Gray Adventures
Clearwater, BC