Message from the UN Resident Coordinator

Today marks one month since devastating floods struck northern Nepal.

At the onset of this tragedy, I was profoundly moved by the nationwide mobilization. From government agencies and the Nepal Army to private businesses and young volunteers contributing to relief efforts, Nepal showed extraordinary unity in these difficult moments.

Yet, amid this remarkable response, the human reality on the ground remains heartbreaking.

I keep thinking back to a group of women and elders I met standing beside a completely destroyed hydropower plant in Rasuwa. In a matter of minutes, a massive, violent wave, reminiscent of a mountain tsunami, swept through their valley. They watched helplessly as loved ones, homes and livelihoods were carried away. Families lost their primary breadwinners. Hopes built over a lifetime vanished in seconds.

While they expressed deep gratitude for the immediate aid that reached them, their eyes were fixed on the future. 

The questions they asked me were grounded in survival: How will we rebuild our homes? 

How will women, suddenly left as sole heads of household, gain the skills and means to support their families and pay back the loans their spouse took to start a family business?

One month on, the scale of loss remains staggering: 1,453 lives lost, 5,644 people still missing, and more than 1,100 people living in displacement centres.

Government bodies at all levels, along with NGOs, the private sector, the UN, and other partners, continue working to reach isolated areas left without roads or connectivity. Floodwaters in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers have receded, but critical relief efforts are still urgently needed.

Right now, we face two parallel imperatives:

Sustaining Immediate Relief: For the next few critical months, affected families, especially in hard-to-reach areas, need continuous support until basic access and infrastructure are fully restored: weather-resistant shelter, clean water, health care and safe spaces for children to learn.

Investing in Long-Term Recovery: Relief keeps people alive today, but recovery restores their independence tomorrow. Investing in resilient housing, businesses and hydropower, green jobs, vocational training for women now heading their households, expanded psychosocial support for older people, women and children, and sustainable infrastructure is what prevents a temporary disaster from becoming generational poverty.

The United Nations and our humanitarian partners have been on the ground from the first hour, supporting the Government-led response. But we cannot bridge this crucial transition alone.

To our international partners and donors: your support so far has saved lives, and for that we are deeply grateful. However, the true test of solidarity lies in what happens next. The people of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and surrounding districts and their government have shown incredible strength. They should not have to rebuild their futures alone.
 

Lila Pieters Yahia
UN Resident Coordinator, Nepal