New York, September 27
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has said Nepal could receive $20 million (Rs 3.65 billion) immediately from the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage.
Khanal, who is in the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly, made the statement in an interview with Onlinekhabar.
“We have now requested $20 million immediately. I think we may be able to receive that amount,” he said.
He said such a decision could be made at the fund’s upcoming board meeting.
“Given the current situation, based on my discussions with the leadership of the Loss and Damage Fund, the letter our colleagues sent to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Environment, and our continued campaign, I think we could receive $20 million by the time of the upcoming board meeting,” Khanal said.
The 10th meeting of the fund’s board is scheduled to be held in Manila, the Philippines, in December 2026.
Khanal acknowledged that the amount would be small compared with the loss of lives and property caused by the Rasuwa floods.
“$20 million is not a very large amount. When we are talking about $5 billion, $20 million is a very small amount,” he said.
However, he said securing the amount would still be a symbolic victory for Nepal.
Nepal had sent a letter to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage on August 31, seeking emergency financial assistance, arguing that the Rasuwa floods of August 26 were linked to climate change.
On September 9, the fund’s board said it was holding discussions and coordinating to respond to Nepal’s request for immediate assistance as soon as possible.
