Dear Fouad & colleagues,
The apocalyptic deluge in Nepal has many of us stunned, dazed and incredibly dismayed.
Leo Goulet has accurately summarized what is happening (below). There are fears that there may be another deluge again soon.
I have been in touch with Lila Peters, UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal - and a former UNICEF colleague. She advises that the whole UN country team is very actively engaged, including UNICEF, of course.
So donations can be made to any of the organizations mentioned by Leo, including the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund and UNICEF.
Gratitude to all for your support & solidarity.
Kul
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On Mon, Aug 31, 2026 at 12:52 AM Fouadkronfol wrote:
Hi Team, you may want to post this latest update about Nepal coming from our colle@gue Leo Goulet who is in Kathmandu. For those who do not know him he was with unicef Hanoi, among other posts, as our Water Officer. He worked a number of years in Nepal also and he visits the country quite regularly, thus knows many locations there.
Fouad
PS Please note the part about possible donations for this emergency.I did not see UNICEF in his note but am sure they are involved. (note - yes there is a separate update on UNICEF)
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From: Leo Goulet
Date: August 30, 2026 at 2:05:54 PM EDT
To: Fouad Kronfol
Subject: The Deluge
Hi Fouad!
I'm sure you've been following the Nepal flood. Here's an update from Kathmandu. I'm fine and I don't know anyone who's been directly affected—so far at least.
That flood is a terrible thing. The latest numbers are that 675 people have died and nearly 3,000 are still missing in Nepal. More death and loss across the border in Tibet but the actual numbers there are uncertain. In Nepal, more than 20 bridges destroyed, 40 kms. of highway washed away, power plants and cell towers destroyed, etc. Kathmandu is only about 40 kms. from the Bhote Koshi / Trishuli River, the river that flooded. I’m going out there tomorrow (Monday) to have a look while doing my best to stay out of the way (I’ve travelled the highway along the river a few times over the years, lastly in March 2026)
Specialists seem to agree that the flood was caused by a section of a glacier on the north face of Mt. Langtang-Lirung breaking off and falling about 1,200 vertical metres to the river, producing a Richter 5.2 shock wave. At first they thought there had been an earthquake that caused the ice to break off, but they found later that it was the impact of the falling ice and rock that caused that shock wave. The ice from the glacier mixed with the water and debris in the river valley and forced it all downstream at a speed impossible to outrun.
Donations to help deal with the disaster are being made via different channels. Some people donate through various relief agencies (CARE, Red Cross, Avaaz, etc.). Others prefer to contribute directly to the government agency concerned, which is what I've done. Donations can be made to that agency online at the following address:
Bank name: Himalayan Bank Ltd.
Kathmandu, Nepal
Name of account: Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund (note: “Minister” has no apostrophe “s”)
Account # 01905631210046
SWIFT: HIMANPKA
Reference to this account and more info can be found on the Government’s official website: here
Take Care,
Leo
--
======================
Kul Chandra Gautam
www.kulgautam.org
kul.gautam1@gmail.com
twitter.com/kulcgautam
Date: August 30, 2026 at 2:05:54 PM EDT
To: Fouad Kronfol
Subject: The Deluge
Hi Fouad!
I'm sure you've been following the Nepal flood. Here's an update from Kathmandu. I'm fine and I don't know anyone who's been directly affected—so far at least.
That flood is a terrible thing. The latest numbers are that 675 people have died and nearly 3,000 are still missing in Nepal. More death and loss across the border in Tibet but the actual numbers there are uncertain. In Nepal, more than 20 bridges destroyed, 40 kms. of highway washed away, power plants and cell towers destroyed, etc. Kathmandu is only about 40 kms. from the Bhote Koshi / Trishuli River, the river that flooded. I’m going out there tomorrow (Monday) to have a look while doing my best to stay out of the way (I’ve travelled the highway along the river a few times over the years, lastly in March 2026)
Specialists seem to agree that the flood was caused by a section of a glacier on the north face of Mt. Langtang-Lirung breaking off and falling about 1,200 vertical metres to the river, producing a Richter 5.2 shock wave. At first they thought there had been an earthquake that caused the ice to break off, but they found later that it was the impact of the falling ice and rock that caused that shock wave. The ice from the glacier mixed with the water and debris in the river valley and forced it all downstream at a speed impossible to outrun.
Donations to help deal with the disaster are being made via different channels. Some people donate through various relief agencies (CARE, Red Cross, Avaaz, etc.). Others prefer to contribute directly to the government agency concerned, which is what I've done. Donations can be made to that agency online at the following address:
Bank name: Himalayan Bank Ltd.
Kathmandu, Nepal
Name of account: Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund (note: “Minister” has no apostrophe “s”)
Account # 01905631210046
SWIFT: HIMANPKA
Reference to this account and more info can be found on the Government’s official website: here
Take Care,
Leo
--
======================
Kul Chandra Gautam
www.kulgautam.org
kul.gautam1@gmail.com
twitter.com/kulcgautam
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