PM Shah: Bhotekoshi disaster a warning to the world

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has called on the international community to come together to protect the Himalayas and the global environment, saying the recent Bhotekoshi disaster should be seen as a warning to the entire world.

Addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Shah recalled UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ longstanding warnings about the growing risks posed by climate change and climate-related disasters.

Shah said Nepal has suffered significant loss of life and property from the recent devastating floods, despite having contributed very little to the global climate crisis.

He stressed that Nepal does not seek to blame any particular country or turn the climate issue into a geopolitical matter.

Instead, the Prime Minister called for collective international action to protect the Himalayas and the environment, stressing that the challenges confronting the mountains have implications far beyond Nepal.

Shah also appealed to the international community to extend necessary support to Nepal as it deals with the aftermath of the disaster and works towards recovery and reconstruction.

The Prime Minister’s message at the UN comes against the backdrop of the devastating Bhotekoshi floods, which have brought renewed international attention to Nepal’s vulnerability to climate-related hazards. Nepal has been calling for stronger international cooperation, climate finance and support for building resilience to such disasters.