Kathmandu— On Monday, Nepal's Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle and Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Gita Chaudhary jointly wrote a letter to the Co-Chairs of the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), requesting emergency financing to address the extensive damage caused by floods in the Bhotekoshi River basin on August 26, 2026. The government emphasized that the scale of destruction exceeds Nepal’s domestic resources and immediate response capacity.
Catastrophic Impact
The official letter highlighted the catastrophic flash floods that struck the Bhotekoshi River basin, causing widespread loss of life, displacement, destruction of homes and critical infrastructure, and severe disruption to essential services, livelihoods, markets, and connectivity across downstream communities. The disaster underscores how extreme events in the cryosphere can rapidly cascade from high mountains to densely populated areas, undermining development gains and affecting water, food, energy, health, infrastructure, ecosystems, and human security.
Nepal's Climate Vulnerability
As a least developed and highly climate-vulnerable mountainous country, Nepal contributes negligibly to global greenhouse gas emissions yet continues to bear disproportionate and escalating climate impacts. Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, Chief of the Climate Change Management Division under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, emphasized that while Nepal's carbon footprint is minimal, the nation suffers excessively from global warming and melting glaciers.
Urgent Appeal
The government requested the board to take a special decision to respond rapidly, directly, and effectively in accordance with its Governing Instrument. They are ready to provide preliminary assessments, official data, satellite information, sectoral damage estimates, and any additional documentation required. The letter also welcomed the immediate designation of a Secretariat focal point to coordinate with national authorities.
(With inputs from RN)
Originally published on abcnews.com.np.
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