Kathmandu [Nepal], October 24 – The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) has approved a $20 million grant for Nepal to support relief and reconstruction following devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river regions.
The decision was made at a special meeting of the fund, according to Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment. The government had formally requested assistance on August 31 after floods affected more than 60,000 people across approximately 15,000 households.
Maheshwar Dhakal, a joint secretary at the ministry said discussions among board members from developed and developing countries helped secure approval.
Nepal must now submit a detailed project proposal outlining support for affected communities to access the funding.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the floods killed around 1,500 people and left more than 5,000 missing. Initial economic losses are estimated at $2.7 billion while total reconstruction costs are projected to reach $4.7 billion.
The UN climate fund was established under the UN climate framework to help vulnerable developing countries address climate-related losses and damage.
