The Parliament of Nepal approved a proposal that classifies climate change as a security threat. This initiative was presented by the Speaker, Dol Prasad Aryal, and requests the Government to establish Nepal's position on the international stage regarding the growing risks facing the region, aiming to prevent future disasters.
The proposal emphasizes that Nepal needs to express its opinion more strongly and clearly in global debates about the damages and losses resulting from climate change, asking the government to address the issue with greater determination.
The document points out that Nepal is highly susceptible to calamities, being vulnerable to both natural and human-caused events. It details that the combination of geographical diversity, fragile geological structure, inadequate and risky development, precarious infrastructure, resource scarcity, and climate change itself has contributed to the recurrent occurrence of various disasters.
According to parliament, more than 500 disasters occur annually in Nepal, resulting in significant loss of life and property. Aryal stressed that although the impacts of climate change have been discussed for decades, the transformations observed in the Himalayas demand more intense international attention.
Additionally, the text suggests a transition in the disaster response approach, moving from a reactive focus to prevention. This is justified by the recent disaster, which demonstrated the urgency of strengthening early warning and monitoring mechanisms.
The Nepalese Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, appeared before the deputies to warn that the recent crisis in the northern district of Rasuwa, caused by a rockfall and snowmelt in the Bhote Koshi river, represents the worst event of this type historically recorded in the area. Shah stated that this event serves as a serious warning about the rising risk.
The head of government emphasized that Nepal cannot handle this crisis alone and announced that it will demand that the international community participate in a global 'shared responsibility' to help mitigate climate impact.
The latest data from Nepal's emergency management authorities indicates that floods resulted in 1,114 deaths and left 3,916 people missing. Concurrently, Chinese state media reported 16 deaths and 546 missing in the Tibet region, bringing the provisional total of victims in the two countries to 1,130 dead and 4,462 missing.
Regarding the missing persons, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lisbon confirmed that three Portuguese citizens are among those missing in Nepal. On the Chinese side, one Portuguese citizen is also listed among the missing in Tibet, according to a previous list released by Chinese authorities covering 261 nationals from 23 countries.
Search and rescue teams continue to operate in the affected areas, after communication restoration allowed authorities to obtain information about communities isolated for several days.