Published On 6 Sep 2026
The United Nations’ top official in Nepal has issued an urgent appeal for international aid, warning that survivors of last month’s devastating Himalayan floods saw their lives change in a matter of minutes.
UN Resident Coordinator Lila Pieters Yahia said communities along the China‑Nepal border are still grappling with the magnitude of destruction after torrential floods on August 26 swept through mountain districts, destroying roads, bridges and hydropower dams.
“You lose your home, your livelihood, your loved ones and the family’s breadwinner,” she told AFP in Kathmandu. “This all happened in a matter of one or two minutes.”
At least 1,384 people have been killed and more than 5,500 remain missing across Nepal and China’s Tibet region. Over 800 of the missing are foreigners from at least 34 nations, including tourists and pilgrims.
Many communities near the flood‑hit area remain isolated, with roads washed away and travel times that once took hours now extending to days. The United Nations, in partnership with Nepal’s government, has launched a $50 million appeal to assist more than 84,000 affected people.
Pieters Yahia warned of heightened risks of cholera and other infectious diseases, noting the loss of 5,000 cattle, and urged immediate investment in sanitation, hygiene and protection for vulnerable women and girls.
“My plea to the international community is that now is the time to help Nepal,” she said. “We cannot leave them alone.”
