KATHMANDU, Sept 24: Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has called for long-term international support to help Nepal recover and rebuild after its recent climate-related disaster.
Addressing a meeting of G7 development ministers held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Khanal sought cooperation on reconstruction, climate finance, disaster preparedness and risks facing the Himalayan region.
According to his secretariat, he thanked G7 members and other countries for their solidarity and assistance. He also thanked France, which chaired the meeting, and praised the G7’s work on climate change, sustainable development and disaster risk reduction.
Flood victims benefit from Chinese-funded recovery program
Khanal said the recent floods had caused extensive loss of life and damaged homes, roads, bridges, schools, health facilities and hydropower infrastructure. Essential services and livelihoods had also been disrupted. Preliminary estimates put recovery and reconstruction needs at more than $5 billion, he said.
Scientific study of the disaster is continuing. Khanal said preliminary findings point to a complex interaction of ice, rock, water and unstable terrain in a rapidly warming Himalayan environment. The government has formed an expert committee to examine climate, geological, glacial and hydrological factors.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat for Nepal. It is our present reality, and both the intensity and frequency of its impacts are increasing,” Khanal said. He added that disasters were damaging lives and livelihoods and eroding development gains built over many years.
Although Nepal contributes very little to global greenhouse gas emissions, it bears a disproportionate share of the effects, he said, citing floods, landslides and melting glaciers.
Khanal outlined Nepal’s priorities for international support. For long-term recovery and reconstruction, he called for a coordinated effort backed by grants and concessional finance. He urged simpler and faster access to funding for climate adaptation and loss and damage, saying Nepal had already requested support through loss and damage financing arrangements and was awaiting a response.
He also called for greater investment in early warning systems, climate information, weather and water services, resilient infrastructure and community disaster preparedness.
Finally, Khanal urged G7 countries and other partners to help make financing through multilateral institutions faster, more affordable and easier to access. For countries repeatedly struck by climate disasters, timely funding is “a lifeline,” he said.
