[Interview] ‘Like civilization was wiped out’: Red Cross responder shares devastation of Nepal’s floods

Nepal's Red Cross director Sägar Shrestha described the catastrophic floods and landslides that swept across the country earlier this month as having "like civilization was wiped out." Over 3,000 bodies have been recovered so far, overwhelming the nation's 2,000 body bag supply. Shrestha emphasized that the humanitarian response is not merely Nepal's responsibility, but also that of neighboring China and India, as the disasters have no borders.

The floods, which struck Nepal and Tibet on August 26, killing at least 900 people and leaving over 4,000 missing, devastated buildings, villages, and farmland, leaving the region resembling a desert or no-man's-land. The most urgent challenge, according to Shrestha, is the dignified management of the dead, with over 3,000 bodies now identified.

However, identification becomes increasingly difficult as decomposition sets in, requiring forensic experts to compare tattoos and distinctive physical features with photographs. The Red Cross has distributed its entire body bag stock to military and police personnel, and is running its Restoring Family Links service to reunite families.

Rescuers are still hopeful of finding survivors in isolated areas and trapped individuals, though relief efforts are hindered by impassable roads and fog. The NRCS has deployed over 300 volunteers to assist with search-and-rescue operations, manage shelters, recover bodies, and provide psychological support. Shrestha stressed that Nepal lacks the capacity to adequately prepare for such disasters alone, calling for increased information sharing between China, India, and Nepal.

While Nepal invests in early warning systems, Shrestha argued that cooperation between the three countries is essential due to the climate crisis and floods not respecting national borders.