Charity appeal sends solar equipment to flood-affected Nepal

UK-based charity One Kind Act says the first batch of solar equipment delivered under its fundraiser for communities impacted by flash floods in Nepal has been dispatched.

The charity launched an appeal titled Solar power for Nepal flood victims following floods on August 26 that swept through the mountainous regions of Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, destroying homes and critical infrastructure.

One Kind Act’s fundraiser explains the hydropower facilities and electricity networks the area depends on were badly affected, while damaged roads and river crossings mean repairing this infrastructure will prove difficult and slow.

The funds raised by the charity’s action is going towards sending solar PV equipment to the region in order to create local power installations where electricity is urgently required, such as medical centres and villages.

“For villages that may remain disconnected from the grid for weeks or months, solar power offers a practical and rapidly deployable solution,” the charity’s fundraiser explains.

“Solar panels and supporting equipment can be transported into remote areas without the continuing fuel requirements of generators, providing communities with an independent source of essential electricity while permanent infrastructure is restored.”

According to a social media post, the first batch of solar equipment has left Delhi, India, and is on its way to Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.

One Kind Act’s update says this first batch is expected to provide emergency solar power support to approximately 50 clusters of 10 households each, equating to around 500 households in total.

The charity’s fundraiser has raised GBP 4,022 ($5,323.70) to date. Its website lists a closing date for donations of November 30.