Dozens of individuals and organisations are raising funds through social media and crowdfunding platforms to help with reconstruction and support the injured and families of those killed in the Gen Z protests. Two months after the start of some of these campaigns, many victims and their families are yet to get any assistance, struggling even to buy essential medical treatment.

Crowdfunding campaigns have been spearheaded primarily by Nepalis living abroad, non-resident associations, student groups, and clubs. However, transparency remains limited, with little information on the amounts raised, the organisers, or the distribution of funds. The Post identified over 100 active fundraisers online.

Of 107 fundraiser accounts created after the protests, 57 set a total target of Rs102.8 million, of which Rs25.87 million has been raised so far. The remaining 50 accounts show no contributions. These campaigns are being run from Australia, the US, Belgium, and Canada.

Among the 57 campaign organisers, 17 targeted 441,700 Australian dollars, raising 187,690 so far. Sixteen aimed for $318,101 and have collected $51,785. Eleven sought 41,700 pound sterlings, raising 5,653.70. Eight expected 34,800 euros but have collected 1,658.77 Euro, while five aimed for 55,000 Canadian dollars, raising 3,452.09 Canadian dollars to date.

Some accounts were created in the names of the injured and deceased, often without the families’ knowledge. A few families have received funds, describing the support as vital.

The name of 48-year-old Santanu Dhakal of Ithari was used by Rabin Rai and Paruhang Rai on GoFundMe to raise 1,800 pounds (Rs335,181). While Rs280,435 has been collected, Santanu has not received any of it. His brother, Elish, said they avoided collecting funds themselves to prevent misuse. “We had said we would not collect any money. But we learned that money was being raised using his [Santanu’s] photo after you mentioned it,” he told The Post. “We have not received any money through GoFundMe.”

The Post contacted Rabin Rai through GoFundMe, but he did not respond. He later updated the page, stating that he will complete the process by November and that he will share photos and videos related to the aid on social media.

Similarly, a fundraiser for Gaurav Joshi, who died during the protests, aimed to collect $1,000 but has raised only $100, which the family has yet to receive. Gaurav’s maternal uncle, Jagdish Prasad Bhatta, said the organisers have been unresponsive.

“Hiroshi Khanal has also reportedly collected money in the name of the martyr. We spoke initially, but he has been out of contact for a month,” Bhatta said. He has submitted memorandums to the Home Ministry and Finance Ministry on the misuse of donations. “But there has been no action,” he added.

The fundraising campaign Nepal Rising, run by Hiroshi Khanal in Australia, has collected 171,957 Australian dollars so far. Khanal had aimed to raise 200,000 Australian dollars to support families of young people killed or injured during the protests. He stated on the GoFundMe page that the funds would be distributed transparently through representatives of the Nepali community in Australia and independent relief mechanisms in Nepal.

The United Nepalis Association aimed to raise $100,000 and has so far collected $31,028 from 172 donors. The association said the funds will be distributed to the families of the deceased.

In Vancouver, the Yarsa Van Football Club targeted 50,000 Canadian dollars, with 26 donors contributing a total of 1,153 dollars. Another fundraiser, run by Dinesh Pant, sought $40,000, collecting $5,315 so far. Sai Avenue Limited and four others aimed to raise 35,000 pounds sterling but have collected only 334 euros.

Khanal, Abhas Bamjan, and Manjil Lamichhane, all raising funds via GoFundMe, said delays in distribution are due to pending review processes. “The families’ concern is valid. They have the right to know when and how they will receive the funds. But we are bound by legal and technical procedures,” they said in an email.

Khanal said the GoFundMe Trust and Safety team agent is reviewing all documents and evidence. “The details of the deceased have been verified, and verification of the injured is ongoing. All work is being conducted transparently and in accordance with the law,” he said.

Khanal has collected funds through two separate campaigns. The money raised under his campaign will go to the families of the deceased, while funds from Bamjan’s campaign will support both the families of the deceased and the injured. “We are providing all requested details to GoFundMe, but the final decision rests with their review team. We hope the process is soon complete and aid reaches the real victims,” Khanal said.

Some injured have received funds.

Abhishek Shrestha has received funds raised under his name. “My relative, Shyam Shrestha, organised it on GoFundMe, and I have received all the collected money,” he said. A target of 6,500 Australian dollars has so far raised 789 Australian dollars.

Likewise, $1,217 was collected for Dipendra Basnet by Ganesh Adhikari. Basnet’s wife, Sangita Khadka, said, “I didn’t know about GoFundMe, but Ganesh Adhikari sent Rs 160,000.”

Funds are also being collected in the names of the deceased, including Binod Maharjan.

Yuvaraj Upadhyaya from Kailali, injured in the stomach and arm, said he has received no funds via GoFundMe. “I haven’t received any aid. Even though the hospital covered treatment and medicines, managing daily living expenses is difficult,” he said.

Similarly, 27-year-old Rakesh Kumar Mahato from Sarlahi, treated for a spinal injury since September 8, has received no aid through GoFundMe. His brother, Rajesh, said, “This is the first time I’ve heard about GoFundMe. We haven’t gotten any assistance.”

Another 27-year-old injured in Sarlahi, Udaya Prakash Sah, said no one has come to assist him. He was shot in the right leg. “Ashika Tamang tried to help once, but I refused. Apart from free hospital treatment and medicines, I am covering all other expenses myself,” he said, adding that he regularly visits the trauma centre for follow-ups.

A group of Nepali student organisations in the US aimed to raise $35,000 and has so far collected $27,500, or 79 percent of the target. The fundraiser was coordinated by Rashika Chamlagai of the University of North Carolina.

Chamlagai, a Bhutanese-Nepali student, told the Post that 40 to 50 percent of the collected funds have already been distributed in the first phase. “Instead of giving individually, we are distributing support through institutions to ensure accountability,” she said.

According to Chamlagai, Eco Sathi Nepal, which handled post-protest cleaning and management, received around $5,500. “We are also in talks with two other organisations,” she said. Their Instagram account shows that Nepal Rising–Karmayog Foundation received $11,500 to provide materials for 300 affected families and street animals.

From Australia, campaigner Abhiyan Chhetri and others collected funds via GoFundMe for injured Gen Z protestors. They coordinated donations through a Facebook group, while the campaign in Nepal was managed by Bikram Dhami. Dhami said they aimed to raise 70,000 Australian dollars, of which 53,573 Australian dollars were collected.

Of the Rs4.77 million collected, Rs1.377 million has been distributed to the injured. “Donors asked us to give money directly to the victims, so we did not go through the government. We personally handed funds to the injured and coordinated with the Martyr Struggle Committee to provide the remaining amount to the families of the deceased,” Dhami said.

According to Dhami, Rs100,000 each was provided to Laxman Nepali alias Dhak Bahadur from Kaski, Liza Adhikari from Morang, Santosh Bohara from Jumla, and Prakash Bohara from Dailekh. Bhuwan Dahal, 19, from Ilam received Rs60,000. Likewise, Prakash Bista of Kailali, Dhanraj Budha and Dharmendra Shahi of Kalikot, Kamal Ghimire of Kavre, Hikmat Bhandari of Doti, Ravi Bhandari of Sindhuli, Nishesh Mahara of Siraha, Paras BK of Kanchanpur, and Sanjay Ghising of Makwanpur each received Rs50,000. Besides these, there are multiple other recipients.

The Post tried contacting fundraisers, including Isana Maratha, Tenzing Singh Gurung, Sai Avenue Limited, Prakash Sharma Paudel, and the United Nepalis Association, but could not reach them. Some posts on GoFundMe were marked donation-protected or private, making it difficult to track amounts collected.

Transparency remains a challenge

During the Covid-19 pandemic, relief and funds sent from home and abroad sometimes failed to reach intended recipients. The government later introduced a single-window system, allowing collections and distributions only with recommendations from relevant agencies.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority under the Home Ministry manages structured relief distribution to ensure all victims are reached. District disaster management committees follow the same one-window system for floods and landslides.

Platforms like GoFundMe have policy and technical measures to secure donations, including identity verification for organisers and donors. Features like Giving Guarantee allow donors to request refunds within a year if misuse is suspected. Donations can also be reported, but GoFundMe requires documentation before refunding, making pre-distribution clarity important.

Chamlagai said organisations often approach them to manage distribution. “We received seven to eight proposals, approved two, and have distributed funds accordingly. We post all disbursement updates on our social media to maintain transparency,” she said.

Post-protest digital fundraising overseas faces coordination challenges among ministries, including Finance, Urban Development, National Planning Commission, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

Finance Ministry spokesperson Tanka Prasad Pandey said the government has established a Physical Infrastructure Reconstruction Fund for systematic collection and distribution of aid. “The fund has an account with Rastriya Banijya Bank and allows voluntary contributions. So far, Rs62.5 million have been deposited. Even if someone collects funds individually, we request them to deposit here for treatment and relief,” he said.

The fund’s secretariat is under the Urban Development Ministry, with a reconstruction committee chaired by the finance minister.

NDMRA spokesperson Shanti Mahat said the one-window system was implemented after ad hoc relief during emergencies often failed to reach target groups. “Under this system, neither the centre nor provinces can distribute aid; the responsibility lies with local authorities,” she said.

Regarding Gen Z protest relief collected via social media or GoFundMe, the authority has not monitored these funds. Government agencies remain unclear on whether online crowdfunding can be integrated into the one-window system. Calls have grown for clearer policies and practical guidelines to ensure proper use of such donations.

Pandey also said the ministry has limited information about campaigns on crowdfunding sites. “An Israeli organisation has also reportedly deposited GoFundMe collections into the government fund,” he added.