Instability in the Gulf is beginning to create ripple effects in Nepal. Many families we work with depend on remittances sent home from relatives working in the Gulf. As uncertainty grows in the region, there is increasing concern about potential job losses, reduced remittances, and the return of migrant workers under difficult circumstances, leaving families facing sudden and severe income shocks.
Furthermore, Nepal’s tourism sector, another critical source of income for low-income families, is also under strain. Fluctuations in visitor numbers and reduced earnings in tourism-related work risk leaving already precarious families with even fewer options to cope.
At the same time, emerging fuel shortages are already driving sharp increases in the cost of essential goods. For families already living on the edge, even small price rises can mean the difference between coping and crisis. As the cost of food, transport, and basic necessities climbs, many are being forced into impossible choices about what they can afford each day. Even in the event of a ceasefire, the disruption to supply chains and markets is likely to persist for months, meaning these pressures will continue long after the immediate crisis has passed.
The immediate risks
For the communities Kidasha supports, these combined pressures are not abstract economic trends. They translate directly into immediate risks for children, including:
- Children being withdrawn from school
- Increased risk of child labour and street involvement
- Greater exposure to exploitation, neglect, and early marriage
- Heightened household stress, debt, and food insecurity
We are already seeing early signs of distress among families we work with, and we anticipate these pressures will intensify in the weeks ahead.
Our response
Kidasha is responding as quickly as possible by:
- Increasing direct support to the most vulnerable households
- Intensifying safeguarding and monitoring for children at heightened risk
- Expanding family outreach to help them navigate financial and social pressures
- Preparing contingency plans to scale up our response if conditions worsen further
However, the scale and speed of need emerging means we must act now – not once the full impact is felt.
Your support at this moment is critical. It enables us to intervene early, before challenges become crises – avoiding family breakdown, protecting the progress children have already made and preventing them from falling into situations that can have lifelong negative consequences.
Appeal
We are acutely aware that this is an exceptionally difficult time for many, and we are especially grateful for your continued commitment and generosity. We also recognise that it is far from an ideal moment to be making an appeal, but if you are able to increase your support or make an additional gift at this time, it will bolster our ability to respond to the growing crisis and will be greatly appreciated.
We will continue to keep you informed as the situation develops. Thank you, as always for your continued support, at a time when it matters most.
Janice Miller, Chief Executive