Call for Collaboration for Disaster Response

Call for Collaboration on Emergency Support for Flash Flood-Affected Communities in Betrawati, Rasuwa

Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS) expresses its deep concern and solidarity with the communities affected by the devastating flash floods that struck Rasuwa and neighboring districts on 26 August 2026. The disaster has resulted in loss of life, people remaining missing, displacement, and extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, livelihoods, schools, health services, water systems, roads, bridges and other essential services.

Our thoughts are with all affected families and communities, those who have lost loved ones, those who remain missing, and the rescue and response personnel working under extremely difficult circumstances. SUS is particularly concerned about women, children, persons with disabilities, older people, Dalit communities, landless families and other socially and economically marginalized groups, who often face greater barriers in accessing timely rescue, relief, protection and recovery assistance.

Situation in Betrawati Bazar: Betrawati Bazar in the lower part of Rasuwa has been severely affected by the flash flood. Most houses in the affected area have sustained damage, while a complete assessment of human casualties is still ongoing. In the Khalte area of Ward No. 5, approximately 300 households living in temporary settlements were reportedly destroyed. One school has also been damaged, further disrupting children’s access to education and essential services.

Existing data from CBS, 2021 indicates the disaster has significantly affected children and adolescents. Those directly affected included 113 boys and 98 girls aged 0–4 years; 133 boys and 120 girls aged 5–9 years; 119 boys and 112 girls aged 10–14 years; and 129 boys and 138 girls aged 15–19 years. These children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to displacement, loss of shelter, interruption of education, psychosocial distress, disease, malnutrition, violence and exploitation following a major disaster.

The disaster has also disproportionately affected people requiring additional support. Preliminary data indicate that 92 persons with disabilities, 157 female-headed households, 148 widows, 128 single women, and 189 older persons aged 68 years and above were directly affected. These groups are facing challenges in evacuation, accessing relief, replacing lost documents, obtaining health services, securing shelter and restoring livelihoods.

An urgent need for inclusive humanitarian support: Disasters do not affect everyone equally. Women, children, persons with disabilities, older people and socially excluded communities can experience heightened risks during emergencies, particularly when homes and livelihoods are lost, and basic services are disrupted. It is therefore essential that emergency assistance is inclusive, gender-responsive, child-sensitive, disability-inclusive and accessible to marginalized communities.

SUS believes that the immediate priority in Betrawati should be to ensure access to safe shelter, food, drinking water, hygiene and sanitation materials, essential household items, emergency health services, protection services, psychosocial support, child-friendly assistance and targeted support for persons with disabilities, women and older people. At the same time, affected families will require support to restore their livelihoods and rebuild their lives safely and with greater resilience.

SUS Call for Collaboration and Solidarity: SUS would like to call for collaboration and solidarity from humanitarian organizations, development partners, donors, private-sector organizations, civil society organizations, community-based organizations and individuals to support the women, children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable families affected by the disaster in Betrawati Bazar, Rasuwa.

SUS is ready to contribute to community-level needs identification, beneficiary verification, outreach to vulnerable households, relief distribution, protection referrals, psychosocial support, community engagement and monitoring of emergency assistance. We particularly invite partners to collaborate with SUS in mobilising resources for:

• Total Direct Beneficiaries (15 September 2026-14 January 2027): 1383 (157 women-headed households, 92 PWDS, 189 Senior Citizens, 211 Children aged 0-4, 484 Students aged 5-14, 250 adolescent girls aged 10-19).
• Emergency food packages (Rice, lentils, oil, salt, etc) for one month/family and essential household materials (kitchen items and cooking items: 1 set, blankets: 2 set/family), assistance for 157 female-headed households;
• Hygiene, sanitation and menstrual hygiene supplies for 250 adolescent girls aged 10-19;
• Emergency shelter/tarpaulin package and protection support for 157 female-headed households;
• Special assistance (need-based) and accessibility support for 92 people with disabilities and 189 senior citizens aged 68+.
• Nutritious food packages for 211 children aged 0-4 and their mothers.
• School uniforms, stationery, school bags, and learning materials support for 484 school-going students aged 5-14.

SUS recognizes that the scale of the disaster extends beyond the capacity of any single organization. Collective action coordinated humanitarian assistance, and community-led response will be essential to ensure that the most vulnerable families are not left behind. We therefore call upon all partners and well-wishers to join hands with SUS in supporting the affected communities of Betrawati Bazar, Rasuwa, with particular attention to women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons and marginalized families. SUS remains committed to ensuring that humanitarian response is guided by the principles of dignity, equality, inclusion, non-discrimination, accountability and the meaningful participation of affected communities.

Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS) is a Dalit women-led civil society organization established in 2008, working with marginalized and vulnerable communities across Nepal. SUS focuses on human rights, social inclusion, sustainable livelihoods, disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, protection, and access to essential services. The organization works closely with government institutions, local governments, civil society organizations, community groups, and development partners to strengthen community capacity and resilience. SUS has experience supporting women, children, persons with disabilities, older people, Dalit communities, climate-affected and displaced populations, including through participatory vulnerability assessments, emergency response, psychosocial support, livelihood initiatives, WASH, and community-based climate action. SUS has coordinated with local authorities, police, health institutions, and humanitarian actors during emergencies.

Please see the detailed demographic profile of the affected area. 

Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS)

Madi-8, Chitwan, Nepal

P.O. Box No. 8975, EPC 1440

Tel: +977-1-5430173

Email: sus@samariutthan.org.np

Web: www.samariutthan.org.np