Nepal Prime Minister calls for climate aid reform at UN following deadly floods

During the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah addressed the severe humanitarian and economic crisis caused by catastrophic flooding in his country. The disaster, triggered by a glacial collapse on the Tibet border in late August, has resulted in at least 1,400 confirmed deaths and a significant number of missing persons, with sources differing on the exact total: Ink.com reports over 6,000, while Cyprus Times estimates over 7,500 missing.

Shah emphasized that Nepal, which contributes less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, is disproportionately suffering the consequences of climate change. The economic devastation is estimated at 5 billion dollars, representing approximately 10% of the nation's GDP. In response, the Prime Minister formally demanded that international aid be transitioned from debt-heavy "mega loans" to direct grants. He argued that current global governance mechanisms are failing vulnerable nations and called for the creation of a dedicated Himalayan climate resilience mechanism to manage future risks.

The international community has been urged to fulfill its climate commitments, as the current level of support is insufficient for a country facing such existential threats. While ongoing rescue operations and recovery efforts are being managed locally, the focus of the government remains on securing sustainable financial support to rebuild critical infrastructure and adapt to the increasingly volatile climate conditions in the region.