A young Nepalese mother who survived devastating floods has issued an urgent appeal for assistance, saying she and her two children face homelessness as emergency shelter arrangements come to an end. Sapan Sani, 24, and her children, Dipchana, 9, and Dipsan, 3, are currently living in a temporary facility that will revert to school use on Saturday, leaving them without accommodation.
Sani’s family home, located in Devighat—a village approximately 60 kilometers from Kathmandu—was destroyed by floodwaters that swept through the region. The area, situated at the confluence of the Trishuli and Tadi Khola rivers, suffered significant damage, including the loss of more than 250 buildings, numerous roads, and over 40 bridges. Flooding also severed critical transportation links between Nepal and China-controlled Tibet, disrupting most imports from China.
Sani, who belongs to a minority community, lived on government-donated land without a formal lease or rent, complicating prospects for rebuilding. Her modest tin-roofed house, set back roughly 400 meters from the river, was overcome by floodwaters and subsequent mudslides. Surrounding terrain remains hazardous, with deep, soft mud posing dangers, particularly to small children.
The recent floods have displaced tens of thousands of people, destroying more than 10,000 homes along the Trishuli River alone. The overall financial cost of the disaster is projected to exceed $5 billion. More than 1,200 people have lost their lives, and over 5,500 remain missing on both sides of the border.
Despite commitments from the Australian federal government to provide $11 million in humanitarian aid, alongside over $4 million donated by the public to an emergency relief alliance, aid recipients like Sani describe the response as too slow to meet immediate survival needs. “We do not have any land and our situation is extremely difficult at the moment,” she said. “I request everyone to please help us.” She emphasized her concern for securing shelter, food, and basic necessities for her children.
Other Nepalese families are grappling with similar challenges. One community member, Mr Ghale, described the emotional toll of losing his home in the floods while now residing in Australia. He expressed uncertainty about his own immigration status amid personal difficulties and called on authorities to consider visa extensions or waivers for affected Nepalese nationals both in Nepal and abroad.
Chirran Tiwari, president of the Nepalese Australian Welfare Society, highlighted the need for ongoing government support not only for reconstruction efforts in Nepal but also for Nepalese migrants in Australia who have been impacted by the disaster. He advocated for expedited processing of visa applications and residency for those displaced by the floods.
As Nepal embarks on a long and complex recovery process, thousands of families remain vulnerable, facing uncertainty over shelter, livelihood, and reunification with loved ones amid widespread devastation.