UN, humanitarian partners to support flood-stricken communities

The UN and the humanitarian country team is on Tuesday setting out an urgent plan to support the ongoing efforts of the Government of Nepal to respond to the deadly floods and landslides that struck Nepal on September 27-28.
The Nepal Floods Response Plan prioritises 193,000 people, with an immediate funding requirement of  $17.5 million to provide urgent assistance to the most vulnerable and most affected people and communities, according to a press release issued by the UN Office in Kathmandu.
With 246 fatalities, 183 injuries, and 18 individuals still missing, the floods have caused widespread devastation in 21 districts, seven of which have been severely impacted. Thousands of families have been displaced, with over 10,000 households sheltering in overcrowded temporary camps, struggling to access basic needs like clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. Damage assessments reveal extensive destruction of critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, health facilities, and schools, as well as significant losses in agriculture and energy sectors.
“Families and communities in Nepal are reeling from devastating floods and landslides that have compounded existing vulnerabilities to disasters and climate shocks,” UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal Hanaa Singer-Hamdy said, adding that the response plan is a unified commitment of the Humanitarian Country Team to provide lifesaving assistance to the communities, who need and deserve our support to face the devastating consequences of the global climate crisis. “We need to stand by them as we globally face a very real, yet uncertain, climate future.”
The Nepal Floods Response Plan supports the government’s “build-back-better” strategy, focusing on urgent food, water, shelter, and protection needs. It prioritizes vulnerable groups—women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities—ensuring equitable access and addressing risks like disease, protection issues, and food insecurity, the press release added.
Donor support towards the $17.5 million urgently required through this plan would ensure UN agencies and humanitarian organizations are capacitated to fully support the people and Government of Nepal.
As the floods developed on 29 September, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) triggered $3.4 million for Anticipatory Action (AA) in Sunsari and Saptari districts, prioritizing vulnerable populations in Koshi and Madhesh provinces. This anticipatory approach, piloted and implemented by FAO, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WFP, is a vital effort to safeguard lives and livelihoods in flood-affected communities.
In close collaboration with the Government of Nepal, the Humanitarian Country Team, UN agencies and partners will intensify efforts to provide life-saving relief and restore livelihoods, ensuring communities have the resilience to rebuild in the wake of yet another climate-driven disaster.