Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Nepal Flood Relief Fund Shifts From Queues To QR Codes
Nepal was hit by major floods on August 26.
People wanted to help the government’s disaster relief fund.
In the past, donors often had to carry cash to a bank and wait in line.
Now, many people can donate using a phone and a QR code.
People living in other countries can also use international cards and payment systems.
More than NPR 10 billion had been collected by the 11th day after the floods.
Donations came from ordinary people, students, companies and international contributors.
This shows how digital payments are changing disaster fundraising in Nepal.
More than NPR 10 billion was collected for Nepal’s relief fund by the 11th day after the August 26 Bhotekoshi floods.
Fonepay processed 889,145 donations, including 815,219 domestic QR payments worth NPR 2.095 billion.
Nepal Clearing House recorded 246,614 transactions, with domestic QR payments contributing NPR 390.5 million.
International Visa and Mastercard payments raised more than NPR 1.4 billion through 93,850 transactions.
Donations came from schoolchildren, businesses, overseas contributors and companies including Nvidia and F1 Soft Group.
- Who
- Nepalese citizens, overseas donors, businesses, technology companies and the government’s disaster relief authorities contributed to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.
- What
- Nepal’s digital payment systems enabled large-scale donations to the flood relief fund through QR codes, mobile banking, cards and international payment networks.
- When
- The fundraising followed the August 26 Bhotekoshi floods; figures were reported by September 6, with some transaction totals recorded by Saturday afternoon.
- Where
- Nepal, with additional contributions from Nepalis abroad and international donors.
- Why
- Digital payment infrastructure made it easier to donate directly without visiting banks, carrying cash or completing traditional international transfers.
- Relief-fund total
- More than NPR 10 billion was collected by the 11th day after the floods.
- Fonepay transactions
- 889,145 transactions were processed, including 815,219 domestic QR payments.
- Fonepay QR value
- Domestic QR payments through Fonepay generated NPR 2.095 billion.
- Nepal Clearing House transactions
- NCHL recorded 246,614 transactions by Saturday afternoon.
- International card donations
- Visa and Mastercard payments generated more than NPR 1.4 billion through 93,850 transactions.
- Other international systems
- UPI generated NPR 4.854 crore, while Alipay contributed NPR 1.797 crore.
- Corporate donation
- F1 Soft Group donated NPR 13.5 million to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.