‘More painful than social media’: Dubai-based Nepali expat recalls flood rescue
Dubai: The first images Ramesh Shrestha saw of the floods in Nepal came through social media and messages from friends. They were frightening. But when the 46-year-old Dubai-based Nepali later travelled into the flood-affected areas himself, he realised that no video could fully capture what had happened. (Have you been affected by the floods in Nepal? Write to us here and tell us your story.)…
Dubai-based Nepali expatriate Ramesh Shrestha, who lives in the United Arab Emirates, recounted his recent experience witnessing the devastating floods in Nepal. Shrestha, the founder and president of the Nepal Association and the Middle East president of the Nepal Refugee Network Association (NRNA), was in Nepal for business when the floods hit the Trishuli and Rasuwa regions on August 26.
His home area in Bheerkhot Municipality-8, Syangja District, was unscathed, but he felt anxious upon learning about the catastrophic floods. Shrestha volunteered with the NRNA, joining a team of about 35 to 40 people, including leaders, former presidents, and other community members, on an emergency mission to provide relief to the affected areas.
The team traveled by truck for three hours to reach Trishuli in Nuwakot, where they found communities struggling due to destroyed roads and blocked transportation routes. The team delivered tents, mattresses, food supplies, and a medical team with essential medicines. They assisted around 300 families and relocated another 300 families to the safety of Nepal Army barracks.
Shrestha emphasized the importance of preparedness and early-warning systems to minimize suffering during disasters. He also thanked the UAE government for its generous humanitarian support.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
