New York, September 28, 2026: Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah has called for grant based international assistance to help the Himalayan nation recover from a devastating glacier related flood that killed at least 1,450 people and left more than 6,000 missing.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday Shah said Nepal’s recovery and reconstruction requirements were estimated at about 10 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.
He argued that countries vulnerable to climate-related disasters should not be required to take on additional debt to rebuild infrastructure destroyed by extreme events.
“When a climate driven disaster destroys infrastructure of a poor country, the answer cannot simply be another mega loan or a patchwork of small grants,” Shah said, calling instead for adequate grant based support from the international community.
Glacier Collapse Triggered Devastating Flooding
The disaster struck mountain communities in late August after the collapse of a glacier near the border between Nepal and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region triggered landslides and a flash flood.
The flood swept through downstream valleys, destroying or damaging roads, bridges, schools, homes and livelihoods and disrupting local development according to Shah.
Search and recovery operations were still continuing weeks after the disaster. More than 6,000 people remained missing, with Shah saying many might never be recovered.
Shah also called for stronger cooperation among Nepal, India and China to improve climate and disaster resilience across the Himalayan region.
He proposed an urgent regional mechanism to facilitate the sharing of satellite data, monitoring of potentially dangerous glacial lakes, stronger early warning systems and coordinated disaster response across national borders.
The proposal comes as Himalayan communities face increasing risks from glacier related hazards, including glacial lake outburst floods, landslides and flash floods.
World Bank announces emergency financing
The World Bank has made available up to $170 million in emergency financing to help Nepal respond to the disaster and begin recovery efforts. The assistance comes as the country faces substantial reconstruction needs following damage to critical infrastructure and local livelihoods.
Shah’s appeal highlights the financial challenge faced by climate vulnerable developing countries after major disasters: rebuilding damaged infrastructure while avoiding a further increase in public debt.
Nepal is seeking international assistance that can support immediate recovery as well as longer term reconstruction and climate resilience.