Intrepid Travel has reached its revised emergency appeal target of $200,000, which it will match dollar for dollar following the catastrophic flash floods in Nepal that has devasted communities.
Raised through its not-for-profit The Intrepid Foundation, the figure was initially $100,000 but Intrepid doubled the figure as the scale of the disaster unfolded.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of our travellers, industry partners and the wider community,” Intrepid Travel ANZ MD Brett Mitchell said. “The response to this appeal is a reminder that travel creates powerful connections, and when communities face hardship, people want to help.
“While immediate support is critical, recovery will be a long-term effort. Nepal has welcomed Intrepid travellers for decades, and we know tourism will play an important role in helping communities rebuild livelihoods, restore businesses and recover from this devastating event.”
With hundreds, perhaps thousands dead, and thousands more missing, the disaster has also caused widespread damage to homes with many homeless, destroyed businesses, roads and critical infrastructure such as bridges, with communities facing a long and challenging recovery.
The Intrepid Foundation’s emergency appeal is in partnership with Australian Red Cross, which is supporting response efforts on the ground. All funds raised will go towards impacted communities, including emergency shelter support, water sanitation and hygiene, first aid and health services.
Australians with concerns for family or friends in the region can contact DFAT’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 within Australia, or +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas.
