United Methodist Missionary Katherine Parker, who serves in Nepal with the United Mission to Nepal (UMN), writes about the church response to the devastating flooding that has occurred just west of the Kathmandu Valley where she is assigned. Katherine has deep roots in the Pacific Northwest Conference and has been directly supported by more than 90 PNW churches, as well as nearly 30 in the Oregon-Idaho Conference.
“The videos and images coming from the affected areas are heartbreaking, and the growing lists of those who have died or remain missing are a source of immense grief and anxiety. As of August 27, Ram Nath, UMN’s Disaster Response Coordinator, reported to staff that the official death toll is at 359, with 910 persons out of contact. Please continue to hold affected families in your prayers, including both Nepalese communities and tourists who were in the area. The Nepalese government has deployed over 9,000 people to the search efforts, and over 440 people have been rescued by helicopter or ground transport.
“Given the scale of the disaster, widespread mobilization and coordination efforts are underway to reach affected families across multiple locations. UMN is joining the rapid response effort for more than 1,000 affected families in three to four municipalities in Dhading District by partnering with CIRDS, the same organization with which UMN worked during the 2015 earthquake relief response.
“Our longer-term plan is to support school recovery efforts in the Nuwakot region. More details will emerge as assessments are completed and response priorities become clearer. Several members of our Kathmandu-based staff have already traveled to the region to support assessments and on-the-ground coordination.”
An appeal for support can be found on the United Mission to Nepal website.
You can give through The Advance (3023568) via your local United Methodist Church, or online on this webpage.
Katherine herself is safe and with family outside Nepal on home leave. She continues to be in close contact with her UMN colleagues there.
