The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $5 million emergency grant to support rescue and relief operations in communities devastated by floods and debris flows along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems on August 26.
Announcing the assistance, ADB President Masato Kanda said the grant would help provide essential relief, including food, safe drinking water, temporary shelter, medicines and other urgent support to affected communities.
“The losses are devastating and are still being counted, but this assistance will help deliver essential support to people who need it most,” Kanda said.
According to the ADB, the disaster has caused widespread loss of life and injuries, displaced communities, and severely damaged homes, infrastructure and essential services in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts. The government has declared the affected areas disaster crisis-affected zones, while search-and-rescue operations and damage assessments are continuing.
The grant, financed through the ADB’s Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, will support the procurement of search-and-rescue equipment, medical supplies, food and safe drinking water. It will also fund temporary shelters, sanitation and hygiene materials, debris clearance, emergency stabilization works and logistical support.
The ADB said it is working closely with the Government of Nepal, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, United Nations agencies and other development partners to assess the evolving situation and coordinate relief and recovery efforts.
In addition, the bank is processing up to $150,000 through a separate disaster-response facility to support a post-disaster needs assessment, recovery planning and preparations for potential reconstruction investments. The assessment will examine the scale of damage and losses, identify sector-specific needs and help determine recovery priorities.
The ADB has pledged to continue supporting Nepal not only during the immediate emergency response but also throughout the country’s longer-term recovery and reconstruction process.
