UN’s Nepal chief makes emotional plea for flood-ravaged country

KATHMANDU: The United Nations' representative for Nepal urgently appealed for aid on Sunday following the catastrophic floods that struck the country on August 26. The floods, which tore through the border region between China and Nepal, left at least 1,384 people dead and over 5,500 others missing. UN Resident Coordinator Lila Pieters Yahia visited the affected mountain communities and expressed the immense suffering of the survivors who had lost their homes, livelihoods, loved ones, and breadwinners in just one to two minutes.

Pieters Yahia emphasized the sudden nature of the disaster and the profound impact it had on the affected communities. The destruction of roads, bridges, and hydropower dams has left many people cut off from the rest of the world, making it difficult to deliver emergency supplies. The UN has launched a US$50 million appeal to assist more than 84,000 people affected by the disaster. However, access to these areas remains a challenge due to the ongoing road blockages.

The floods have also raised concerns about the risk of disease outbreaks, particularly cholera. Pieters Yahia highlighted the limited resources of Nepal and the need for immediate action to address sanitation and hygiene issues. The loss of over 5,000 cattle in the flooding has further exacerbated the strain on the affected communities. Pieters Yahia made a plea to the international community to extend their support to Nepal at this critical time, stating that they cannot leave the people there to fend for themselves.