Switzerland boosts support for Nepal following flash flood devastation
Bern, 04.09.2026 — Switzerland is increasing its support for the people of Nepal affected by the flash flooding of 26 August 2026. Just one day after the disaster the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) made USD 1 million available for emergency humanitarian relief. In response to the UN appeal published today, it is now committing a further USD 1 million. At the same time three Swiss specialists are being deployed to provide on-the-ground assistance with reconstruction and disaster risk management.
Switzerland responded to the disaster immediately on 27 August, when the SDC made USD 1 million available for emergency humanitarian relief. The funds go through the UN system straight to the affected areas. Here they are used to distribute relief goods such as clean drinking water, emergency accommodation and food, as well as medical care and psychosocial support, to the affected population.
A few days ago staff from the Swiss embassy in Kathmandu were able to visit the disaster zone and gain a first-hand impression of the situation and the ongoing rescue and recovery work. Following their report, the decision was made to provide the UN appeal of 4 September 2026 with a further USD 1 million. The extra Swiss support will go towards meeting the most urgent needs of the affected communities, as listed in the appeal. The focus here is on logistics, accommodation and camp coordination, security, education, food aid, health and hygiene, and telecommunications.
In addition to providing immediate financial assistance, Switzerland is seconding two specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit to the disaster zone. They will support safe reconstruction in view of future natural hazard risks. A third person will be recruited through the Swiss embassy in Kathmandu. They will work on the ground, side by side with the Nepalese authorities, the UN and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
Meanwhile, Switzerland has been working with the responsible Nepalese authorities for two years now on risk modelling, disaster risk reduction and early warning systems. Findings from current events will further refine this work. In this way Switzerland will help to make Nepal more resilient to future natural hazards.
Switzerland has long-standing partnerships in Nepal. Indeed, climate change and disaster risk reduction is one of three areas of intervention defined in the Swiss cooperation programme for Nepal for 2023–28. Support following the flash flooding therefore combines direct humanitarian aid with Swiss expertise to ensure that reconstruction is safe and disaster risk management is strengthened for the long term.
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