Nepal PM demands climate action after Himalayan disaster

KATHMANDU: Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah condemned the deadly Himalayan flood that occurred last week, attributing it to climate change and calling for international action. The flood, triggered by a glacial collapse on the China-Nepal border, resulted in at least 939 deaths and nearly 4,500 people still missing. Prime Minister Shah emphasized that this was not an ordinary flood but one of the region's most significant disasters.

The prime minister explained that while the exact cause of the glacial collapse remains unclear, climate change is responsible for the accelerated melting of glaciers worldwide, thereby heightening the risk of such disasters. Scientists have noted that the Himalayas, the world's highest mountain range, are experiencing faster melting rates due to rising global temperatures.

Shah highlighted that this incident underscores the escalating risks faced by the Himalayan region in the face of climate change, urging vigilance in the area. Despite contributing minimal emissions to global warming compared to wealthy and industrialized nations, Nepal is grappling with the severe consequences.

Nepal's Prime Minister urged the international community to address the issue of climate-induced disasters, stating that it's time to strongly raise the matter with the global community. The Himalayan glaciers, crucial water sources for around 240 million people in the mountainous regions and 1.65 billion people in the South Asian and Southeast Asian river valleys below, are a vital resource.

Following the disaster, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had previously warned of the challenges faced by Himalayan regions due to rapidly melting glaciers, describing the situation as a "devastating reminder of how fragile these mountain environments can be." Nepal's economy is already under pressure, with limited resources to respond effectively to this scale of disaster.