Climate Justice For Prevention, Resilience

Nepal faces one of the most painful times in its recent history. The catastrophic Bhotekoshi flash flood has caused the loss of thousands of lives, and thousands are still missing. It swept away settlements, schools, health centres, roads and hydropower projects. Despite rescue efforts, survivors continue to suffer. Preliminary estimates place the damage at around US$ 5 billion. A large mass of rock and ice separated from a high-altitude glacier and fell into a valley, triggering a catastrophic flash flood along the Bhotekoshi River. This disaster shows that global warming, through the rapid melting and retreat of glaciers, is making the Himalayas highly vulnerable. Rivers, farms, roads and settlements face intensifying risks.