UN appeals for US$50mil for Nepal flood victims

The United Nations has called for US$50 million to aid the thousands of people affected by catastrophic floods in Nepal. The floods, which struck on August 26th near the China-Nepal border, claimed over 1,300 lives and left more than 5,600 people missing in both countries. UN officials warned that winter was approaching, and time was running out for the affected communities.

The floods caused extensive damage to roads, bridges, and hydropower dams, making it difficult for aid to reach those in need. As a result, the UN is appealing for nearly US$50 million to deliver essential supplies such as cash, food, shelter, clean water, healthcare, and other life-saving assistance to the most devastated communities.

Health authorities are already monitoring for fever and diarrhea in displacement centers, while human remains and thousands of dead livestock still lie in the debris, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. Communities near the epicenter remain cut off, and families who have lost their homes need durable shelter within weeks, not months.

According to a preliminary assessment by UN Nepal, the building damage alone from the floods amounted to US$158 million, and total losses, including damage to infrastructure and agriculture, could be considerably higher, potentially running into billions of dollars for Nepal's reconstruction efforts.