Nepal 2026 Appeal: Water, Food, Shelter

Nepal 2026 Appeal: Water, Food, Shelter

on behalf of Solidarity Overseas Service Malta (SOS Malta)

Following the recent catastrophic flash floods in northern Nepal, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche after part of a glacier collapsed, many communities have lost their homes and access to essential supplies. SOS Malta’s emergency response will focus on providing clean drinking water, food and shelter to affected families. Support will be delivered according to verified needs through reputable organisations operating on the ground, following the necessary due diligence to ensure that assistance reaches communities effectively and responsibly.

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About the project

On 26 August 2026, a catastrophic flash flood struck Rasuwa District in northern Nepal, close to the border with Tibet. Current assessments indicate that the disaster was triggered by an ice-rock avalanche following the collapse of part of a Himalayan glacier. The resulting surge of water, mud, boulders and debris swept through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, destroying homes and critical infrastructure, cutting off communities and leaving many families without basic necessities or a safe place to live.

SOS Malta is launching an emergency appeal to support the people and communities affected. Our immediate priority will be to help provide safe drinking water and essential food supplies to families who have lost access to these basic necessities. At the same time, SOS Malta will work to identify practical ways of providing emergency shelter to people whose homes have been destroyed or rendered unsafe.

All assistance will be guided by verified needs on the ground and delivered through reputable and experienced local or international organisations operating in the affected areas. Before committing funds or support, SOS Malta will undertake the necessary due diligence to ensure that its partners are credible, accountable and capable of reaching affected communities effectively.

Every contribution can help provide clean water to drink, food to sustain families and shelter for those who have lost their homes. Together, we can help restore safety, dignity and hope while supporting Nepal’s affected communities on the difficult journey towards recovery.

Project Deliverables

The humanitarian response will produce the following key deliverables:

1. Provision of clean and safe drinking water
Affected households will receive clean drinking water and, where appropriate, water-purification solutions such as filters or purification tablets. Safe water-storage containers may also be provided to reduce contamination. The most appropriate method will be determined through the needs assessment and local access conditions.

2. Distribution of emergency food assistance
Families that have lost access to food, income or basic supplies will receive essential food assistance. This may include family food packages, ready-to-eat supplies or prepared meals, depending on local needs and distribution possibilities. Food provided will, as far as possible, be nutritious, culturally appropriate and suitable for vulnerable household members.

3. Provision of emergency shelter support
People whose homes have been destroyed or rendered unsafe will receive support to access safe temporary shelter. Assistance may include tents, tarpaulins, shelter kits, essential materials for emergency repairs or support through established temporary accommodation facilities. Priority will be given to displaced households and people facing higher than others protection risks.

4. Accountable and coordinated delivery of assistance
SOS Malta will work with WCN on the grounds having already worked together in Nepal in 2015. Beneficiaries will be selected through transparent, needs-based criteria.

5. Monitoring and reporting
The humanitarian aid project will maintain records of the households assisted and the type of support provided. Where feasible, beneficiary feedback and post-distribution monitoring will be undertaken. A final report will document the use of funds, assistance delivered and beneficiaries reached.

Specific quantities and targets will be established once the funds raised, verified needs, local costs and operational conditions are confirmed.

Project Beneficiaries

The project’s direct beneficiaries will be individuals and families living in communities affected by the catastrophic flash floods in northern Nepal. The final geographic coverage and number of beneficiaries will be determined through a rapid needs assessment conducted by SOS Malta’s selected partner organisation on the ground.

Assistance will primarily target households that:

  • Have lost their homes or whose homes have become unsafe;
  • Have been displaced or are living in temporary or overcrowded accommodation;
  • Have lost access to clean drinking water and adequate food;
  • Have lost essential household items, livelihoods or income because of the disaster; or
  • Remain isolated or difficult to reach due to damaged roads and infrastructure.

Priority will be given to people facing vulnerability, including children, older persons, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, single-parent households and families with limited financial resources. Particular attention will also be given to households that have received little or no assistance from other sources.

Indirect beneficiaries will include neighbouring communities and local services experiencing increased pressure because of displacement and shortages. The provision of clean water, food and safe shelter will also contribute to reducing public-health and health protection risks within the wider affected community.

Beneficiaries will be identified through transparent, needs-based and non-discriminatory criteria, in coordination with reputable organisations and relevant local stakeholders.