UN Launches $49.6m Appeal for Nepal Flood Disaster

The United Nations and its humanitarian partners have launched a $49.6 million emergency appeal to provide food, shelter, healthcare and other critical assistance to more than 84,000 people affected by catastrophic floods in northern Nepal.

The appeal, launched on Friday, comes as rescue and relief operations continue in some of the country’s worst-hit areas following floods triggered by the collapse of a glacier on August 26 near the Nepal-Tibet border.

Roads, Power and Water Systems Destroyed

The Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading areas in northern Nepal have suffered extensive damage, with roads, schools, electricity networks and water systems either destroyed or severely damaged.

Many families have also lost their homes, livestock and livelihoods while some are mourning family members killed in the disaster.

Lila Pieters Yahia, the UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal, said the emergency response would focus on reaching communities that are difficult to access, particularly before the arrival of winter.

“Families have lost everything: their loved ones, their homes, their livelihoods, swept away in minutes,” Yahia said.

The UN said the appeal would support emergency cash assistance, shelter materials, healthcare, clean water, food and protection services.

Humanitarian agencies also plan to provide portable solar power units, water purification systems and cold-weather supplies as authorities prepare for worsening conditions during the winter months.

UNICEF sends 84 tonnes of supplies

Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the European Union have stepped up their response.

A flight carrying 84 metric tonnes of humanitarian supplies arrived in Kathmandu on Friday, according to UNICEF.

The shipment includes diarrhoea treatment kits, water tanks, hygiene supplies, water-treatment materials, winter clothing and educational materials.

UNICEF said the supplies would help support hundreds of thousands of people affected by the disaster, particularly children and families facing increased health and protection risks.

“This shipment will help us deliver urgently needed support and reach children and families with services that protect their health, wellbeing and future,” said Alice Akunga, UNICEF’s representative in Nepal.

The agency has already distributed emergency supplies and helped establish child-friendly spaces stocked with recreational materials for children affected by the floods.

Winter Adds Urgency

Relief agencies say the emergency is far from over, with thousands of people still in need of shelter, clean water, healthcare and basic necessities.

Humanitarian teams have begun transporting relief materials to some of the hardest-hit communities, with disease prevention and repairs to essential infrastructure among the immediate priorities.

Akunga warned that continued international support would be crucial as Nepal moves into the recovery phase.

“As the scale of the disaster is enormous, the needs remain significant and every day matters,” she said.

The UN appeal aims to provide immediate assistance while helping affected communities begin rebuilding their homes, livelihoods and essential services before winter makes access to remote areas increasingly difficult.