Nepal Seeks Climate Justice From UN Fund After Deadly Glacier Collapse

Overview

• The glacier collapse that struck northern Nepal on 26 August produced fast-moving ice, rock and water surges that devastated Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading and affected about 84,270 people.
• Nepal reports 1,377 confirmed dead, 5,130 missing and 13,656 rescued and has framed its appeal to the UN as a demand for climate justice and compensation.
• The government has formally asked the UN Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to activate emergency procedures, making Nepal one of the first tests of the Fund’s real-world response.
• The UN and Nepal launched a US$49.6 million flash appeal to reach 84,000 people and have raised about US$22 million so far while relief teams use measures such as WFP cargo drones to reach cut-off communities.
• The Loss and Damage Fund has received far less than pledged and has not yet disbursed funds, so the board’s decision on Nepal will show whether limited resources and emergency rules can deliver timely recovery finance and reduce the risk of new loans and debt for reconstruction.