Handicap International teams assist people affected by the floods in Nepal; Credit: HI

On Tuesday 6 October 2026, Handicap International (HI), an independent international solidarity association with branches in eight countries, including Luxembourg, provided an update on its humanitarian response in Nepal several weeks after severe flooding hit the north of the country, with needs now evolving beyond the emergency phase.

At the end of August 2026, floods and severe flooding struck several regions of northern Nepal. Between 93,000 and 1.6 million people were affected by the disaster. More than 1,300 people lost their lives and nearly 4,900 are still missing.

The damage also severely affected infrastructure. Roads and bridges were damaged, isolating some communities and further complicating access to humanitarian aid. Thousands of people had to leave their homes and are living in temporary accommodation centres, with significant needs for water, food, hygiene and healthcare.

HI Luxembourg noted that, in this context, some people require particular attention: people with disabilities, children, older people and women may be more exposed to the consequences of the disaster and the difficulties associated with displacement.

Supporting People After the Emergency

Present in Nepal for more than 25 years, HI responds to emergency situations with specific expertise, particularly in rehabilitation and mental health. However, HI Luxembourg stressed that the organisation's role does not end with emergency care: with support, those affected can hope to gradually regain their independence and resume their daily lives.

"It is not enough to save a life. What matters is what comes afterwards: how the person can regain their place in society and what this changes in concrete terms in their life," explained Éric Weerts, Rehabilitation Technical Advisor at Handicap International Luxembourg.

As part of its current response, HI teams provide rehabilitation care, particularly physiotherapy and occupational therapy. They also repair or replace mobility aids when these have been lost or damaged during the floods.

Support also continues on a psychological level. Teams provide mental health support and psychosocial assistance to people facing displacement or the loss of loved ones, their homes or their livelihoods.

Donation-Matching Initiative for Companies

In response to needs that persist beyond the emergency phase, HI is relaunching More Impact Together, an initiative enabling Luxembourg companies to contribute collectively to the humanitarian response to the disaster.

"For a company, contributing alone to a humanitarian response can seem like a drop in the ocean. By enabling them to pool their efforts, we want to show that everyone's commitment counts and that collective action makes it possible to give greater scope to solidarity," said Grégory Monaco, Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships at Handicap International Luxembourg.

The principle is simple: each company contributes according to its means, and the donations collected help strengthen the humanitarian response. The combined contributions support the activities currently being carried out by HI in Nepal.

Luxembourg companies wishing to participate in the initiative or obtain further information can consult the More Impact Together initiative website.