Nepal Floods: Over 1,300 Dead - Press Briefing | United Nations

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Speaking live from Kathmandu, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nepal Lila Pieters Yahia reported that confirmed fatalities from the August 26 disaster have reached 1,367, with more than 5,100 people still unaccounted for, including 587 foreign nationals. Yahia highlighted ongoing search-and-rescue efforts in flooded hydropower tunnels and pushed for swift international backing of the UN's $49.6 million flash appeal, framing Nepal's devastation as a stark reminder of the urgent need for global climate justice and loss-and-damage financing. Addressing the Resident Coordinator for Nepal Lila Pieters Yahia said, "I'm speaking to you from Kathmandu two weeks after the disaster that struck Nepal on 26th of August, where things stand as of this evening. We have 1,367 people confirmed dead. Around 5,132 people are still missing, including about 587 foreign national. 102 bodies have been handed over. 13,646 people have been rescued. On Saturday, I visited the worst affected areas. What I saw whole settlements are gone, the riverbed has moved. People are still searching for family members they know they may never find. They are doing it along the military, police, international experts, and volunteer. People told me five things. They witness the loved one, the community members being taken away by the 20 meters high wave. They lost their livelihood, they lost their loved one, they lost their home, and they lost in many cases, the breadwinner of their family. But they also told me that aid has reached them. They are receiving food, non food item, My colleagues from WFP, from UNICEF, from WHO have reached those communities along with NGO partners and the government. The aid is reaching. However, still some people have not been able to be reached because access remain extremely difficult. Last Friday with the government of Nepal and the United Nations, we launched a flash appeal for $49.6 million to reach more than 84,000 people by the end of December. It covers logistic food, clean water, healthcare, mental health care, protection, shelter and cash. It is designed to put money directly into people hence whatever markets are working. It is a life saving appeal. It does not cover reconstruction, which will follow the government post disaster need assessment. Where are we so far in terms of funding? Out of the 49.6 million we have received the pledge of $22 million. I'd like, as a next point to discuss the point which has been making headline news everywhere now, which is the issue of climate justice and loss and damages. As Stephan said, the devastation Nepal has experienced is an extraordinary stark illustration of the losses and damages that climate vulnerable countries are increasingly facing. Nepal has contributed very little to global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet it is experiencing profound human and economical consequences from a changing climate. The government of Nepal has approached the fund for responding to loss and damages for support, and that request will be considered through the fund established governance and decision making process. It will not be appropriate for us the UN team here in Nepal to prejudge that process or the amount of financing that may ultimately be approved. More broadly, Nepal calls for climate justice speaks to a principle that lies at the heart of the international climate Framework. Countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change need adequate and accessible support to respond to losses and damages they did little to cause. Question of the legal responsibility or liability of individual state as distinct from the fund financing process. It will be also very inappropriate for me, the resident coordinator, to make determination on those question. Our immediate priority is to support Nepal and its people in responding to the enormous human consequences of this disaster and the urgent need for humanitarian need. My plea tonight to the international community, we need to demonstrate solidarity towards the people of Nepal, a time where they needed the most. Thank you."


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