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The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre dispatched a relief aircraft that arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday in line with directives from King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Nepali Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun received the consignment alongside Saudi Ambassador to Nepal Fahad bin Mohammed bin Mnaikhir at Tribhuvan International Airport. A specialized team from the centre will coordinate with Nepali authorities on distributing the varied supplies to communities affected by the floods that caused major loss of life and property damage. The ambassador highlighted how the assistance demonstrates the Kingdom’s focus on aiding friendly countries hit by natural disasters while underscoring its prominent role in global humanitarian work.
Mahabir Pun conveyed thanks to Saudi leadership for the support, which he described as evidence of the deep friendship and close relations between Nepal and Saudi Arabia. According to the Saudi Embassy in Nepal, the KSrelief team will work directly with local agencies to ensure the aid reaches those impacted in the Bhotekoshi region. This delivery adds to the centre’s ongoing operations that have provided relief in multiple crisis situations across Asia in recent years.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority placed the death toll from the Bhotekoshi floods and related landslides at 1,287 as of early September with more than 5,000 people still unaccounted for. The authority’s data showed 5,397 injuries and the successful rescue of 13,093 individuals including over 300 foreign nationals. Security forces mobilized more than 21,000 personnel across affected districts to manage the disaster response and recovery.
A rapid damage and needs assessment prepared by the National Planning Commission and the disaster authority estimated social sector losses at over 67 billion Nepali rupees requiring more than 103 billion for recovery in that area alone. The preliminary report put physical damage from the floods at around 1.8 billion U.S. dollars with additional economic losses near 883 million. Reconstruction requirements could total 4.78 billion dollars over the short and long term according to the assessment.
The floods that struck in early September devastated districts including Chitwan, Nawalparasi East and West, Nuwakot and Rasuwa with the highest number of recovered bodies recorded in Chitwan. Only a small portion of the 1,287 bodies had been identified at the time of the latest authority update while DNA sampling from thousands of relatives continues. Private homes bore the brunt with 7,570 residences damaged or destroyed as part of the widespread infrastructure impact.
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre has maintained a record of swift responses to disasters in the region through targeted shipments of food, shelter and medical items. Nepal continues its recovery operations more than a month after the event with international partners contributing equipment and expertise for search efforts. Coordination between KSrelief specialists and Nepali officials aims to address immediate needs in the hardest-hit communities.
