Nepal Floods - IFRC Releases Emergency Funds of 1 Million
Sunday, August 30, 2026
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is releasing nearly CHF one million in emergency funding to support the Nepal Red Cross Society’s response to severe flash flooding in northern Nepal.
The funding, provided through the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), will help the Nepal Red Cross respond to urgent needs while teams assess the scale of the destruction and identify communities requiring assistance.
A catastrophic flash flood originating upstream caused significant destruction in northern Nepal on 26 August, with some of the worst impacts reported in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Homes, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities and other critical infrastructure have been badly damaged. Contd
Multiple bridges have been washed away and major roads disrupted, leaving some of the worst-affected communities extremely difficult to reach, especially in Rasuwa. These access constraints are making it harder for responders to assess the full scale of the disaster and deliver assistance to people in need.
“The priority now is to reach affected communities and get assistance to people who have lost their homes, suffered injuries or have been cut off,” said the IFRC head of delegation for Nepal, David Fisher.
“The release of emergency funding means the Nepal Red Cross can act immediately while assessments continue. We are closely monitoring the situation and are ready to provide additional support if needs increase. We will not forget support for their long-term recovery either, since entire villages and market areas have been wiped out”.
Nepal Red Cross teams have deployed towards affected areas, while additional emergency teams and volunteers are being mobilised to support local branches with limited response capacity.
Initial assistance includes distributing drinking water and emergency supplies including tarpaulins, blankets, sleeping mats, first aid kits, stretchers and body bags.
The immediate humanitarian priorities are emergency shelter, safe drinking water, basic relief items, first aid and health support, and restoring access to isolated communities. Rapid assessments are being prepared to determine the scale of needs and inform the next phase of the response, including potential cash assistance.
The IFRC is supporting the Nepal Red Cross with emergency funding, operational coordination and technical support, while regional and global teams remain on standby to provide additional capacity and international assistance if required.
A clearer picture of the impact is expected as floodwaters recede, and currently inaccessible areas can be reached. The situation remains highly dynamic, and the IFRC continues to monitor developments closely and adapt the response as further information becomes available.
