Update as of 5th October: Since we published this press release, the impact of the events have resulted in the deaths of over 239 people, with 18 still missing and 169 injured. The destruction of homes and infrastructure has caused damages exceeding NPR 50 billion. In response, the Government of Nepal has rescued over 17,000 individuals, including through helicopter missions, and has been distributing financial support to affected families, along with emergency relief materials. Additional support has been mobilized through UN agencies and the Nepal Red Cross to aid ongoing recovery efforts. We expect the full impact and losses and damages to increase over the coming days of the rescue mission.
Between 27th-29th September 2024, Nepal experienced record-breaking levels of rainfall, which has caused many incidents of flood and inundation, as well as landslides across multiple districts. These events have resulted in the deaths of over 230 people, destruction of homes and infrastructure and over 12bn NPR worth of damage. The Government of Nepal has responded, saving over 17,000 individuals (including through helicopter rescues), distributing financial support to the families affected, providing emergency relief materials and mobilising additional support through UN agencies and the Nepal Red Cross. This briefing on the losses and damages faced in the country summarises the situation report as of 3rd October 2024.
Given the changing climate, these types of unprecedented extreme weather events are inevitable and will only increase in frequency in the years to come. Despite reliable and timely forecasts of heavy rainfall and early warnings, without the release of resources for early action in advance of the floods, it has not been possible to fully mobilise communities and evacuate the affected areas ahead of the floods.
Mr Anil Pokhrel, Chief Executive of the National Disaster Risk Reduction And Management Authority (NDRRMA) and Governing Board member of the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP), said: “We are devastated that so many families have been impacted by the recent floods and landslides. We are grateful for the support received to date, but we also need additional resources to be able to respond to the existing needs, whilst also building back in a way that reduces our vulnerability to future extreme weather events. Despite the fact that Nepal has contributed very little in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, we are dealing with the increasingly severe impacts of climate change.”
As a member of REAP, Nepal is seeking to take more proactive and anticipatory measures to manage the risks the country faces. Nevertheless, there is a desperate need for the international community to step up and ensure that financial instruments provide resources before floods strike so that communities can protect themselves. This is precisely why the Charter on Getting Ahead of Disasters was launched at COP28 – to ensure we can act in advance of disasters, align our efforts, pre-arrange the finance and deliver it to local communities as quickly and efficiently as possible. There is still much work to do in the months and years ahead.