Richard Gere has shared a heartfelt message after devastating floods and landslides hit the Nepal-Tibet border. The actor said the disaster has left him heartbroken because of his deep connection to the region. Gere has supported Tibetan people and their culture for decades. He also expressed hope for those still waiting for help.
Richard Gere recalls the Nepal and Tibet communities that have shaped his life for decades
Gere shared his message on social media Thursday. “My heart is with the people of Nepal and Tibet today,” he wrote. The Himalayas and their people have remained close to him for several years now, he said. In 1978, Gere went to Nepal with Brazilian painter Sylvia Martins.
That trip brought Gere closer to Tibetan monks and lamas. Their influence led him to embrace Tibetan Buddhism in the early 1980s. Around the same time, he also met the Dalai Lama in India. Ever since then, Gere has advocated for Tibetan human rights and the preservation of Tibetan culture.
Gere said the recent disaster caused heartbreaking damage from Nepal to Gyirong and the Shigatse region of Tibet. “Seeing the devastation caused by these floods … is heartbreaking,” he wrote. He added that search-and-rescue efforts had only just begun and that the early hours were filled with both uncertainty and hope. “Today there are no borders in our compassion,” Gere said.
The disaster began after a massive glacial collapse triggered catastrophic flooding in the Himalayan border region. Videos showed a massive wall of water, mud and debris crashing through a border crossing in Gyirong. The floods destroyed homes, roads and other infrastructure across affected areas. Hundreds of people have died and more than 1,000 remain missing as rescue teams continue searching for survivors.
