Nepal prime minister warns UN assembly of "death and destruction of epic proportion" after Himalayan floods

Prime Minister Belindra Sha of Nepal told the United Nations General Assembly that recent catastrophic floods in the Himalayas amounted to "death and destruction of epic proportion," and urged the international community to treat the disaster as both a humanitarian and development emergency.

"I must speak about death and destruction of epic proportion," Sha said, describing families searching through mud, rocks and water and communities with bridges, roads, schools and homes swept away. He said the floods interrupted Nepal's steady progress toward sustainable development and that a rapid assessment had pegged physical recovery needs at about 10% of gross domestic product.

Sha framed the event as a global warning, not a local misfortune, and noted the disaster's downstream impact into India to underline that climate-driven hazards cross borders. He appealed for solidarity and immediate assistance while urging long-term changes to ensure vulnerable countries are not forced into debt to repair damage they did not cause.

The prime minister also reiterated calls for improved early-warning systems and cross-border coordination to reduce loss of life in mountainous regions. The assembly's introduction and a formal thank-you followed the address.