General News
15 September, 2026
City delivers for Nepal
SUPPORT from the Cairns community is helping to deliver essential supplies to communities affected by devastating flooding in Nepal.
Som Tamang, founder of the not-for-profit organisation Friends of Himalayan Children (FHC), arrived in Nepal on 3 September and is working with the FHC and Take on Nepal teams to provide household supplies and food.
After consulting people and authorities on the ground, the teams identified an immediate need for essential supplies and travelled to Dhunche, 110km from Kathmandu, with multiple trucks carrying aid.
The journey to Dhunche takes about seven hours on mountainous roads.
Mr Tamang has described widespread destruction across affected communities, with homes destroyed, roads disappearing and families losing almost everything.
“I don’t think any words can really prepare you for seeing this with your own eyes,” he said.
“I’ve walked through communities where homes are destroyed, roads have disappeared and families have lost almost everything. But the physical destruction is only part of it.”
The disaster has also affected a major trading route between Nepal and China and an important route for travellers heading to Mount Kailash. Nepali porters, guides and workers were caught in the disaster, while people from Mr Tamang’s village, who were working along the border and at hydropower projects, have lost their lives.
Mr Tamang said communities needed food, clean water, shelter, warm clothing, hygiene supplies and medicine.
“People need the basics – food, clean water, shelter, warm clothing, hygiene supplies and medicine,” he said.
“But there is another need that is harder to see: people need hope. They need to know they haven’t been forgotten.”
Reaching isolated communities remains difficult, with roads and bridges destroyed and some areas almost completely cut off. Relief teams are delivering supplies as conditions allow.
FHC has thanked supporters for their response to its disaster fund and said assistance would continue if communities required help.
Donations to the Nepal flash-flood relief fund can be made via the Friends of Himalayan Children donation page: www.cnslocal.s.gy/y4q5S9.
The organisation says the fund is providing emergency relief and longer-term support to those affected by the disaster.
Mr Tamang is also posting video updates from Nepal through the Friends of Himalayan Children Facebook page: www.cnslocal.s.gy/QSJ9T5.
