In Nepal, Devastating Floods Put Millions At Risk

Nepal is currently grappling with a severe crisis brought on by heavy rains, which have triggered widespread floods and landslides. This natural disaster is exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and increasing humanitarian needs.

Action Against Hunger, already operating in the country, is launching emergency interventions and calling on aid agencies and international actors to rally greater global solidarity in support of relief efforts. 

Of the country’s 77 districts, 56 have been affected, including the capital, Kathmandu. In the past 48 hours alone, at least 200 people have lost their lives, with over 100 seriously injured and 32 still missing. The floods have submerged countless private houses and caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure, including roads and bridges, complicating evacuation and relief efforts.

“Many areas, including parts of Kathmandu, are heavily flooded, forcing residents to move to higher floors or evacuate. The situation remains critical with rescue operations ongoing”, explains Ojaswi ACHARYA, Action Against Hunger (ACF) Country Director in Nepal. 

Given the current situation, approximately 2 million people are now affected by the floods across the country. Thus, this event is considered one of the most severe in the past years, and humanitarian actors expect a high level of impact and needs. 

“We conduct assessments to understand the scale of the disaster. At the very moment, people need food, drinking water, clothes and temporary shelter. The flooding has increased the risk of waterborne diseases, adding to the challenges faced by healthcare providers.”, according to Ms. ACHARYA. 

Local authorities have called on all international organizations working in Nepal, including ACF, to support the relief response. ACF runs programs in the Udayapur, Rasuwa, and Nuwakot districts, where teams have already begun conducting rapid assessments of the damage caused by the floods. The response plan is expected to be launched in the coming hours, with its scope and focus determined by the outcomes of the needs assessments.

Nepal is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, with its mountainous terrain and monsoon climate making it prone to frequent floods, landslides, and earthquakes. The devastating 2015 earthquake, which claimed thousands of lives, remains a stark reminder of this fragility. The capacity of local authorities and institutions to respond is stretched thin, with limited resources available for immediate relief.