Supporting Gurkha Veterans Through Nepal’s Monsoon Season

From around mid-June to the end of September, Nepal suffers an annual, devastating monsoon.

“For an agricultural country like Nepal which depends so much on rainwater for crop production, the monsoon is a welcome sight. But the monsoon, which brings cheer to so many people, also has a dark side. Natural disasters like landslides, soil erosion and floods are common at this particular time of the year. Hundreds of lives can be lost and it causes millions of Nepalese Rupees of damage every year.” Dr Khimesh Chhantyal Pun

Reaching the Remote: The Challenge for Pensioner Support Teams

Alongside damage to homes and farmland, the heavy rains cause severe flooding on roads. This can make it all the more difficult for our Pensioner Support Teams to reach Gurkha veterans and widows living in remote villages in the hills.

The monsoon not only causes dangerous journeys for our field team, but also makes travel difficult for our beneficiaries, making it even more essential for the team to reach them to check they are safe and well.

Footsteps Through the Floods

When the road conditions make it impossible to continue by vehicle, our teams continue on foot to reach pensioners living in remote villages.

Training for the Worst: Preparing for Monsoon Conditions

Although the monsoon season is inevitable, occurring from June to September every year, we can’t predict the severity. However, we’re ready to deal with every eventuality when travelling to visit vulnerable veterans and widows. This is why our teams undergo rigorous training in how to navigate muddy, flooded roads on motorbikes and in 4×4 vehicles.

Despite the many challenges brought on by Nepal’s monsoon season, our commitment to Gurkha veterans and widows remains unwavering. Whether by vehicle or on foot, through treacherous conditions, our teams go above and beyond to ensure that no one is left isolated or without support. The journey may be long and often dangerous, but the safety and well-being of our veterans and widows is at the heart of everything we do – rain or shine.