Disasters & Incidents
Nepal flood aid among WFP's toughest, chief says
The World Food Programme's Nepal chief said aid operations after the August 26 China-Nepal border flood are among the agency's toughest, as helicopters and cargo drones carry food to communities cut off by destroyed roads and bridges.
Riaz Lodhi, head of WFP in Nepal, said the disaster was among the “top three most challenging disasters” the agency had faced. He said some places could only be reached by helicopter and described the operation as expensive.
The flood was triggered by a collapse of rock and glacier in the Himalayas on the China-Nepal border. At least 1,446 people were killed and more than 6,500 remain missing across both countries.
WFP has used cargo drones to deliver food to isolated communities in Nepal for the first time. Lodhi said food that could take two or three days to move by mule, yak or porter after Nepal's 2015 earthquake could now reach some areas in five to 10 minutes. The drones can carry 30 to 100 kilograms depending on operating conditions.
Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group have linked the disaster to long-term warming, glacier retreat, permafrost thaw and geological instability. Nepal estimates reconstruction will cost $4.78 billion.
WFP expects to provide food assistance for four to six months, but Lodhi said needs would remain high because people had lost food stocks, homes and crops. Prime Minister Balendra Shah is due to address the UN General Assembly on the issue next week.
Update
WFP Nepal country chief Riaz Lodhi said the flood response was among the agency's three most challenging disasters.
WFP has deployed cargo drones in Nepal to deliver food to isolated communities for the first time in the country.
Lodhi said some places can be reached only by helicopter and that journeys once taking two hours can now take a day.
The drones can carry 30 to 100 kilograms depending on conditions and can deliver food in five to 10 minutes on some routes.
WFP expects to provide food assistance for four to six months, while warning that humanitarian needs will continue.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 September 2026 at 11:01:18 UTC.
Update
World Weather Attribution scientists said climate change was a core factor in the China-Nepal border disaster.
The scientists described the disaster as a compound crisis involving long-term warming, glacier retreat, permafrost thaw and geological instability, not a single extreme weather event.
Nepal revised the missing figure to 6,150 and said 1,403 bodies had been retrieved, with 105 identified.
Chinese state media gave China's toll as 43 dead and 519 missing.
The combined toll now stands at 1,446 dead and at least 6,669 missing.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 September 2026 at 00:01:13 UTC.
Update
Save the Children said at least 540 children had been separated from their parents, according to a preliminary assessment.
Nepal's government said it would guarantee education through high school for affected children.
The government and stakeholders committed to a $6.5 million scholarship fund for about 1,000 students affected by the floods.
Psychologists and teachers at temporary learning centres described trauma among affected children.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 04:08:29 UTC.
Update
Nepal's disaster agency said rescuers had retrieved 1,385 bodies and around 5,130 people were missing in Nepal as of Friday.
The combined toll in Nepal and China was reported as 1,428 dead and more than 5,649 missing.
Nepal's foreign ministry estimated $57.67 million would be needed for short-term reconstruction and recovery over six months and $4.71 billion for longer-term reconstruction.
A UN preliminary assessment estimated building damage from the floods at $158 million alone.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 10:31:42 UTC.
Update
Nepal's foreign ministry said the flood reconstruction bill would be $4.78 billion.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 10:08:42 UTC.
Update
Authorities appealed for overseas family members of missing people to submit DNA samples by email.
A public notice specified genetic tests relatives should seek depending on their sex and relationship to the missing person.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 18:30:20 UTC.
Update
Nepal police said they were increasing vigilance in relief camps to protect children, women and minority groups from sexual abuse.
Nepal police said psychosocial counselling had started in different camps.
Nepal police said security personnel and community members had begun a special search for bodies along the Bhotekoshi river corridor, including the use of drones.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 12:00:47 UTC.
Update
Latest figures put Nepal's toll at 1,367 bodies recovered and 5,132 people missing, according to Kathmandu's disaster authority.
Chinese state media reported 43 deaths and 519 missing in China.
Thousands of displaced people are living in camps.
Save the Children said as many as 540 children had been separated from their parents.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 10:45:27 UTC.
Update
The reported death toll has risen to more than 1,401 people.
Nepal's disaster authority said 1,358 bodies had been recovered in Nepal and 5,326 people were missing there.
Chinese state media reported 43 dead and 519 missing in China.
Nepal Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet said searches were continuing in tunnels at the Trishuli 3A, Trishuli 3B and Chilime hydropower projects.
There has been no official confirmation of further survivors since two Nepalis were rescued on Friday and a Chinese man on Saturday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 06:10:08 UTC.
Update
Nepal's disaster authority said the rise in missing numbers followed efforts to compile and verify reports from across the country.
Nepal's foreign ministry said hopes of finding survivors remain and that the reported number of people missing inside tunnels remains unverified.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 September 2026 at 11:35:08 UTC.
Update
Nepal's disaster authority said the death toll in Nepal had risen to 1,357, with 5,326 people still missing.
Chinese state media said 43 people were confirmed dead and 519 were missing in China.
The combined figures bring the overall toll to 1,400 dead and 5,845 missing.
Nepali rescuers are focusing on three hydropower projects where they believe workers could still be trapped.
Dharam Raj Uprety said rescuers had reports of stranded people higher on the hill.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 September 2026 at 10:02:47 UTC.
Update
The overall death toll is now at least 1,399, up from at least 1,398 in the matched story.
Nepal's disaster agency now reports 1,356 bodies retrieved in Nepal and about 4,994 people missing there.
Local volunteer groups in Kathmandu were packing utensils, blankets and clothes for survivors on Monday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 7 September 2026 at 13:19:07 UTC.
Update
Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel visited relief camps in Nuwakot district on Monday.
A 64-year-old Nepali woman, Chandika Shrestha, was pulled alive from her mud-covered home in Bidur on Saturday after her family had held a symbolic funeral ceremony.
Nepal says reconstruction could cost billions of dollars and its economy has limited resources to respond at this scale.
The disaster came just ahead of the anniversary of last year's September 8-9 mass anti-corruption protests that toppled the government.
Source note: AFP news report published on 7 September 2026 at 09:09:31 UTC.
Update
Nepal held a national day of mourning on Monday for victims of the August 26 disaster.
The overall death toll is now at least 1,398, with more than 5,500 people missing.
Nepal's disaster agency said 1,355 bodies had been retrieved in Nepal and about 4,996 people were missing there.
Chinese state media put the toll in China at 43 dead and 519 missing.
Nepal Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet said rescue efforts were continuing on the ground, by air and in tunnels.
Australian tunnel rescue expert Arnold Dix said the operation involved multiple potential rescues in different places.
A UN preliminary assessment estimated building damage from the floods at $158 million.
Source note: AFP news report published on 7 September 2026 at 06:45:23 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The exact number of missing people remains subject to changing and separately scoped figures from Nepal and China.
Source
AFP news report published on .