UN Appeals for $50 Million in Emergency Aid as Nepal Flood Death Toll Surpasses 1,300
The United Nations and its humanitarian partners have launched an urgent $49.6 million flash appeal to provide life-saving assistance to more than 84,000 people severely affected by catastrophic flash floods in northern and central Nepal. The disaster, triggered by a massive glacial mountain collapse along the Nepal-China border on August 26, has devastated remote mountain communities, destroyed critical infrastructure, and left a trail of immense destruction.
According to official figures released by the Nepal Police and local disaster authorities, the verified death toll from the flash floods and subsequent landslides has risen to over 1,300 across Nepal and the neighboring Tibet region, with more than 5,000 individuals still reported missing. Entire towns and villages in districts such as Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading have been cut off due to destroyed bridges, ruined roads, and damaged power grids.
Amid the ongoing disaster, emergency crews achieved a remarkable breakthrough by rescuing two workers alive from a buried hydropower tunnel at the Upper Trishuli 3A project nine days after the initial flood surge. However, humanitarian organizations warn that time is running out for thousands of displaced survivors facing impending winter weather and growing risks of waterborne diseases.
The UN appeal aims to deliver immediate cash assistance, emergency shelter, clean drinking water, mobile healthcare, and sanitation supplies to the hardest-hit areas. Reconstruction costs for houses, power plants, and public infrastructure are estimated to reach billions of dollars, prompting international calls for urgent climate disaster support.
