Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has sent financial assistance to Caritas Nepal as rescue and relief efforts continue following devastating floods that have killed more than 630 people and left nearly 3,000 others missing.
The assistance was sent through the Dicastery for the Service of Charity in coordination with the Apostolic Nunciature of Nepal. It is intended to support urgent needs among people affected by the disaster.
Caritas Nepal, which operates under the direction of the Apostolic Vicariate, has been providing assistance since the first hours after the flooding. Its work includes distributing food and basic necessities and providing shelter to people who have lost their homes and belongings.
The Pope had expressed his deep sorrow over the disaster in a telegram on Wednesday, August 26. The financial support is intended as an immediate response to the needs of those affected.
Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, said the assistance was an initial contribution from the Pope to address the immediate needs of the affected population.
He said the support was also meant to show the closeness of Pope Leo XIV to people who are suffering, particularly the most vulnerable.
The latest figures cited in the material put the death toll at more than 630, while nearly 3,000 people remain missing, including more than 500 foreigners.
The Nepalese army has also been deployed for rescue operations. More than 100 people are believed to be trapped inside a tunnel at a hydroelectric power plant in the country’s hardest hit district.
Relief and rescue operations are continuing as authorities respond to the scale of the disaster.