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Catastrophic Nepal floods leave communities and animals at risk
27 August 2026
Catastrophic flash floods have swept through communities along the Nepal–China border, leaving widespread destruction and an escalating humanitarian crisis. The disaster has affected areas on both sides of the border, while in Nepal, at least 160 people have been reported killed, hundreds remain missing, and the full scale of the disaster is still emerging.
The floods have devastated settlements and critical infrastructure, destroying bridges and approximately 40 kilometres of roads and severely limiting access to some affected communities. Preliminary assessments indicate that an ice-and-rock avalanche high in the Himalayas may have triggered the catastrophic flooding, though scientists and authorities continue to investigate the exact cause.
The impact on animals is not yet known. With entire settlements affected and access severely constrained, determining how many community animals—including pets, farm animals, and others—may be injured, displaced, stranded, or without access to food and care will take time.
Sneha’s Care animal rescue operations in Nepal supporting animals during a previous disaster earlier this year, with support from IFAW. Photo: © Sneha’s Care
IFAW sends emergency support for rapid assessment
IFAW is providing emergency funding to Nepalese partner Sneha’s Care to support an immediate field assessment of animal needs in affected communities.
Sneha’s Care is gathering field supplies and preparing to deploy an assessment team alongside other Nepalese animal protection organisations. Working with government authorities, teams will coordinate across affected areas, beginning in Nuwakot, to identify animals in need and determine where rescue and relief assistance may be required. Urgent care will be provided to animals in critical condition as part of this first phase of response.
Reaching affected communities remains a major challenge. Roads and bridges have been swept away, while muddy floodwaters carrying debris and potentially hazardous materials are creating dangerous conditions for rescue. Aerial assessments are underway as authorities and responders work to understand the extent of the destruction.
IFAW will remain in close contact with Sneha’s Care and other local teams as the situation develops and is preparing for the possibility that additional support may be needed.
Preparedness put to the test
The emergency comes as IFAW and partners have been working to strengthen disaster resilience for animals in Nepal.
Following an IFAW risk assessment and mapping project completed in 2025, we began a Nepal resilience project focused on building local capacity among animal protection organisations and government authorities. In July 2026, IFAW brought invited organisations and authorities together for a webinar focused on strengthening disaster resilience for animals in Nepal.
Those relationships and preparedness efforts are now helping inform the response. IFAW is supporting remote assessments through established contacts in affected areas, while our team in China is gathering information from local and regional sources and contacts to help build a clearer cross-border picture of the disaster and emerging animal needs.
IFAW has also notified its global network of animal disaster responders so additional expertise can be mobilised as needed.
Standing alongside local responders
This is not the first time IFAW has responded alongside partners in Nepal. Following the catastrophic earthquakes of 2015, IFAW response teams worked with local organisations over six weeks to assist animals and communities. More recently, IFAW has provided emergency support to Sneha’s Care during crises affecting community animals and the people who care for them.
Long-standing relationships and locally led capacity are especially important during disasters of this scale. Local organisations understand their communities, know the landscape, and can coordinate with authorities and other responders as needs emerge.
As access improves and the scale of the disaster becomes clearer, IFAW, Sneha’s Care, and other local teams will continue assessing what animals and communities need and how best to support the response.
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