Nepal's Environment Minister, Gita Choudhary, announced the country's request for $20 million from the International Loss and Damage Fund. This fund, supported by the United Nations, assists countries affected by irreversible damages caused by climate change.
Damage from Recent Floods
This action follows floods and landslides in August that killed over 1,400 people and left thousands missing. Choudhary said in an interview, "We have sent an official letter requesting this fund, and most other countries have responded positively."
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Sudden floods have caused widespread devastation across large areas of Nepal, damaging homes, agricultural land, and infrastructure. Rescue and recovery efforts are still ongoing in several regions, while officials are assessing the full extent of the damages.
Call for Climate Justice
Choudhary has strongly emphasized Nepal's need for climate justice, stating, "Sympathy alone is not enough for us. We need justice. If you cannot provide justice, then we do not need words either." Nepal contributes only about 0.1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but the country's geography makes it highly vulnerable to climate-related hazards.
The Environment Minister also pointed to melting glaciers and temperature changes as key factors behind the deadly floods, saying, "Our evidence shows that this catastrophic event is due to climate change."
Choudhary stated that Nepal will call for more attention to the specific challenges faced by mountainous countries at the COP31 conference to be held in Turkey in November, adding, "Mountain issues must be addressed. The world needs to see us; we are victim countries and we are paying the price for these problems."
This disaster has also led to criticisms within Nepal regarding warning systems and crisis responses. Some residents of affected areas have complained about delays in warnings and insufficient information.
In defense of the government's response, Choudhary acknowledged that existing systems were overwhelmed due to the scale of the incident, stating, "We sent messages and information, but the situation was beyond imagination."
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