Climate Change Undoubtedly Behind Disaster, Response a Global Responsibility: PM

Kathmandu / Sept. 01: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said that the flooding in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa last Wednesday was caused by climate change, stressing that addressing the resulting disasters is a shared global responsibility.

In a statement posted on social media on Tuesday, Prime Minister Shah said it had been confirmed that temperatures in the Himalayan region have already risen by up to 1.8 degrees Celsius.

“There is no doubt that this disaster occurred because of climate change. Climate change is a global contribution, and the response must also be a global responsibility,” he said.

Prime Minister Shah said the incident was a warning that the risks Nepal and other Himalayan countries face due to climate change are increasing.

“Many of us have been asking how this disaster occurred. Discussions with experts suggest that the flooding in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa was one of the largest disasters in the region, triggered by a massive ice and rock avalanche in the Himalayan area. Therefore, we must remain particularly vigilant in this region,” he said.

He said Nepal has reached a point where it must strongly raise the issue of climate-induced disasters before the international community.

“Why did the ice and rock collapse? How did such a huge volume of water accumulate? Humanity must find answers to these questions,” Shah said.

According to the Prime Minister, the collapse of the glacier may have involved both ice and water resulting from melting within the glacier.

“Experts say that the flood in the Bhotekoshi River may have occurred when a large section of a glacier fell from a great height with enormous energy. It may have begun melting at the point of impact and continued to melt, eventually turning into a massive flood,” Shah said.

He added that the steep decline in elevation from the Himalayan highlands toward Nepal caused the flood to gain further force, devastating the surrounding area.

Prime Minister Shah said the government has moved beyond search, rescue and relief distribution and is now focusing on rehabilitation and reconstruction following the devastating floods.

He said the government is working to save the lives of affected people and protect their health by providing necessary medical treatment and psychosocial counselling while advancing the rehabilitation process.

According to Shah, relief distribution to flood-affected people is continuing in an organized manner. A total of 2,653 people have received shelter and relief at 19 temporary shelters in Nuwakot, while affected people from Rasuwa are also being provided shelter and relief in Nuwakot.

The Prime Minister also said international assistance has continued to arrive following the disaster.

According to him, the Government of India began providing assistance from the day of the floods and has so far supplied 68.5 tonnes of relief and rescue materials. An 11-member Indian rescue team has also arrived in Nepal. India is additionally preparing to provide a 22-foot refrigerated container truck on a temporary basis.

Pakistan is providing 86 tonnes of relief materials, while Sri Lanka has pledged assistance worth US$1 million. Bangladesh is also preparing to send relief supplies.

China has provided NPR 300 million to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. A Chinese rescue team is working in the affected areas, while China has also supplied 50 tonnes of relief materials. The Government of Nepal has requested China to provide 30 Bailey bridges for the affected areas.

The United States has pledged US$500,000, while Australia has pledged US$1 million in cash assistance. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has already provided 83 tonnes of essential relief materials and pledged assistance of up to US$10 million.

Qatar has also provided relief materials, while Switzerland has provided CHF 1 million, to be utilized through the United Nations.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged US$5 million in budgetary grant support, while the World Bank has committed US$167 million in concessional financing. The ADB has also pledged US$150,000 in technical assistance.

Prime Minister Shah said further assistance has also been pledged by friendly countries, including the United Kingdom and Japan, while support is being received from the European Union and United Nations agencies.