Nepal seeks UN loss-and-damage fund after Rasuwa floods kill 1,400

September 25, 2026 at 08:34 PM2 min

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Flash floods triggered by a glacial collapse swept through Nepal's Rasuwa region on 26 August, killing more than 1,400 people and leaving about 6,000 missing. Nepal's government formally asked the UN Fund for responding to Loss and Damage for urgent financial support five days later. The fund has yet to announce any arrangement for Nepal, even as reconstruction costs are estimated at nearly $5 billion.

Key Facts

The 26 August floods in Rasuwa killed more than 1,400 people and left about 6,000 missing.
Nepal's government estimates reconstruction will cost almost $5 billion, roughly 10% of GDP.
Nepal formally asked the UN Fund for responding to Loss and Damage for urgent financial support on 31 August.
The fund responded that Nepal's request would be approached with "urgency, compassion, and careful consideration" but has made no further announcement.
The fund currently has no rapid-access pathway for emergency applications outside scheduled windows.

The Rasuwa Disaster

On 26 August, a 'tsunami' of water, mud and boulders swept through the Rasuwa region of Nepal. The floods were triggered by a glacial collapse. More than 1,400 people were killed and about 6,000 remain missing. The government estimates reconstruction will cost almost $5 billion, roughly 10% of Nepal's gross domestic product. Nepal has contributed only 0.01% of global carbon emissions.

Loss and Damage Fund Response

The Rasuwa disaster marks the first big operational test for the United Nations' Fund for responding to Loss and Damage. Five days after the floods, Nepal's government formally asked the fund for urgent financial support. The fund responded that Nepal's request would be approached with "urgency, compassion, and careful consideration". No further announcement has been forthcoming one month after the disaster. The fund currently has no rapid-access pathway through which a country can apply for funding outside scheduled application windows.

Funding Framework Gaps

The fund has not yet laid out a framework for how it will weigh up the role of climate change in any disaster. Established in 2022, the loss and damage fund is in its infancy. One of the fund's main roles is to provide finance quickly to support humanitarian action in emergencies. The author, an environmental scientist with more than 20 years studying change in the Himalayas, argues that Rasuwa must set a precedent for future emergencies. The fund should provide an immediate emergency allocation and, within a few years, finance for reconstruction and long-term recovery.