Red Cross mobilises in Nepal as disaster leaves villages washed out

Tommaso Della Longa, spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), told French broadcaster France 24 that rescue efforts following a recent natural disaster in Nepal are being complicated not only by the scale of destruction but also by the difficulty of reaching affected communities.

According to Della Longa, the disaster has swept away roads, bridges and communication networks in several areas, forcing responders to find alternative ways of reaching villages that have effectively been cut off from the outside world.

Search and rescue remains the priority

The Red Cross spokesperson stressed that the organisation's immediate priority remains search and rescue operations, along with delivering life-saving assistance to affected residents. At the same time, preparations are already under way for the longer-term recovery of the affected areas.

A personal tragedy for responders too

Della Longa noted that the crisis is also deeply personal for those helping others: local Red Cross volunteers are working to support their own communities, even though some of them have themselves lost their homes or relatives in the disaster. This makes the crisis a profoundly human ordeal not only for those affected, but also for the responders on the ground.