Ripple announced a $300,000 donation to support flood relief in Nepal and Tibet on August 28, two days after a Himalayan glacier collapse triggered deadly flooding across the region. The funding will be distributed between World Central Kitchen and Mercy Corps to provide emergency meals, safe drinking water, and sanitation services.
The glacier collapse sent ice, rock, mud and water down valleys along multiple river systems, including the Lhende Khola, Bhote Koshi and Trishuli. The flooding severely damaged infrastructure in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts in Nepal, as well as the Gyirong border port in Tibet, disabling roads, bridges, power systems, health facilities and communications links.
By August 29, more than 600 people had reportedly died across both regions, with more than 2,000 people remaining missing. The flooding affected at least 17,000 children in Nepal alone, destroying 18 schools and damaging 20 others while severely affecting four health facilities.
World Central Kitchen has activated local restaurant partners in Rasuwa and Nuwakot to distribute meals, while its relief team is traveling to reinforce operations. Mercy Corps, which has worked in Nepal for over 20 years, is coordinating with local authorities and humanitarian partners to assess needs. The funding targets communities where transport and utility networks have been disrupted.
The donation extends Ripple's existing partnerships with both organizations. Ripple has supported World Central Kitchen since 2020, and previously piloted payment systems with the nonprofit's restaurant partners. Ripple has also funded humanitarian projects through Mercy Corps, including a drought insurance pilot in Kenya that used satellite data to monitor vegetation conditions.
UNICEF has requested $17.2 million for a broader relief effort covering health, nutrition, sanitation, education, protection and early recovery needs across the affected areas.
