7 hrs ago
UN Loss and Damage Fund Promises Nepal Urgent Flood Support
A huge flood hit Nepal after a glacier collapsed near the Nepal-Tibet border.
About 1,400 people died, and more than 5,100 people were still missing.
Nepal says the disaster caused more damage than the country can manage alone.
It asked a United Nations fund for money to help recover.
The fund is designed to help poorer countries facing serious climate-related damage.
Nepal is reportedly asking first for $20 million.
The fund’s leaders said they would try to respond quickly.
Some developing-country board members strongly supported immediate action, but no developed-country members signed their letter.
Nepal requested urgent assistance from the UN-backed Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage after a deadly August 26 flash flood.
The disaster followed a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border and killed about 1,400 people, with more than 5,100 still missing.
Nepal is reportedly seeking an initial $20 million from the fund to address economic and non-economic losses.
FRLD co-chairs said they were urging the board to consider options for a swift and meaningful response.
Eight developing-country board members and six alternate members urged an extraordinary meeting, while no developed-country members signed the letter.
- Who
- The Government of Nepal, the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, and members of its board.
- What
- Nepal requested urgent financial support after a catastrophic flash flood, reportedly seeking an initial $20 million.
- Where
- At the Bhote Koshi River near the Nepal-Tibet border.
- When
- The flood occurred on August 26; Nepal’s request was dated August 31, and the co-chairs’ response was dated September 9. The article also refers to a September 2 board-members’ letter.
- Why
- Nepal said the disaster caused unprecedented losses beyond its ability to handle alone, while experts linked the event to climate-change-driven temperature increases.
Developing-Country Members and Nepal
Developed-Country Members
Urgency of the response
Developing-Country Members and Nepal
Nepal requested immediate support, and eight developing-country board members plus six alternates urged the co-chairs to convene an extraordinary meeting.
Developed-Country Members
No developed-country board or alternate members signed the request; the article does not state their reasons or formal position.
How support should be understood
Developing-Country Members and Nepal
Nepal’s foreign minister said international assistance should be viewed through the lens of climate justice rather than charity.
Developed-Country Members
The article does not report a contrasting public statement from developed-country members.
Fund eligibility
Developing-Country Members and Nepal
Nepal and climate experts said the event fits the fund’s purpose because climate change contributed to the extreme disaster and the losses exceeded Nepal’s capacity.
Developed-Country Members
The article reports no opposing eligibility assessment from other board members.
Key facts
- Disaster
- A flash flood followed a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border.
- Reported deaths
- Around 1,400 people were killed.
- Missing people
- More than 5,100 people remained missing.
- Nepal’s request
- An initial $20 million from the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage.
- Nepal’s request date
- August 31.
- Co-chairs’ response
- September 9.
- Developing-country support
- Eight of 14 developing-country board members and six alternate members signed a call for urgent action.
- Developed-country participation
- No developed-country board or alternate members signed that letter.
Quotes
Camila Minerva Rodriguez Tavarez and Georg Borsting
Co-chairs of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage board
“In our capacity as co-chairs of the board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) … we would like to assure you that we are engaging with the FRLD board to address your request as rapidly as possible”
telegraphindia.com
FRLD board members from developing countries
Board and alternate members representing developing-country groups
“This event constitutes precisely the kind of climate-related extreme weather events the Fund was established to address … The scale of loss of life, displacement, and destruction of energy, transport, and economic infrastructure warrants the Board’s urgent consideration of how the Fund’s existing instruments should be mobilised to support Nepal’s government and affected communities”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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