The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Nepal’s floods are a warning to the world. Recovery goes beyond brick and stone.
Statement attributable to Jorge Moreira da Silva, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director following his visit to Nepal.
I have just concluded a visit to Nepal where I witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of the ongoing flash floods on communities, homes, basic infrastructure and livelihoods in Devighat and Bidur (Nuwakot).
Standing amid the devastation in #Nepal, seeing the impacts of the floods and mudslides firsthand, was deeply sobering. Over 1,500 lives lost. More than 5,000 missing. Homes, bridges, energy facilities, decimated. Around 100,000 people affected. Make no mistake: This was not a local incident. It was a climate-driven catastrophe. Nepal contributes a tiny fraction of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, yet is directly bearing the brunt of the climate crisis. This is a defining moment. As communities begin the long road to recovery, Nepal is counting on us all to help the country rebuild. The international community must renew its climate commitments and bring a renewed solidarity with developing countries to help build resilience, mobilize climate finance, and support critical adaptation and mitigation efforts. @UNOPS and the @UN system are ready to scale up our support and deliver for the people of #Nepal.
— Jorge Moreira da Silva (@UNOPS_Chief) October 18, 2026
The scale of destruction is colossal. More than 1,500 people have lost their lives. Over 5,600 people are still missing. Eighty bridges and thirteen hydro power dams were destroyed. And 2.2 million tonnes of debris and sediment are now occupying what used to be houses, roads and rivers. The World Bank estimates reconstruction needs at nearly US$4.8 billion. The Prime Minister of Nepal pegged physical recovery needs at about 10 per cent of GDP.
Nepal faces an enormous recovery challenge, made all the more difficult by sharp increases in prices of fuel, transport and construction, and deepening risks of food insecurity linked to the war in the Middle East.
I met people who had lost their homes and entire livelihoods in the floods, and saw the challenges they face now as they try to build back their lives. Recovery goes beyond the brick and stone. It is about supporting people to rebuild their lives, recover their losses and overcome the challenges they face.
The devastation I witnessed is a stark reminder that the climate crisis is also a development crisis, disproportionately affecting those who have contributed least to it. The impacts extend far beyond Nepal: the Hindu Kush Himalaya – of which Nepal is a core part – is a vital source of water for over 2 billion people – around a quarter of humanity. But its snow and ice is fast disappearing, with the region warming about twice as fast as the global average.
UNOPS stands with the people and government of Nepal in their efforts to recover and rebuild. Working closely with the government and international partners, UNOPS will contribute its expertise in resilient infrastructure, procurement and project implementation to help build a safer, more resilient future for all Nepalis.
