Nepal: Over 90,000 People Affected by Landslide in the Himalayas

Friday 28 August 2026 - 18:32

The disaster affecting part of the Himalayas does not seem to be over yet. According to the Red Cross, at least 93,000 people have been directly impacted by the landslide and are now in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Authorities fear further flooding as rescue operations remain challenging.

A disaster that continues to expand

The humanitarian toll from the landslide in the Himalayas is growing. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies now estimates that around 93,000 people are directly affected and require assistance.

The situation remains particularly concerning in several areas impacted by mudslides and flooding. Humanitarian teams are struggling with damaged infrastructure and conditions that complicate the delivery of aid.

For the organizations on the ground, the emergency is no longer limited to the immediate consequences of the landslide: the risk of new flooding episodes is now one of the main threats.

The breach of a lake complicates rescue efforts

One of the main obstacles faced by humanitarian teams is related to the formation of a lake caused by the landslide.

When this water reservoir overflowed and breached its banks, the consequences disrupted rescue operations. Trucks carrying humanitarian supplies became stranded.

This situation illustrates the difficulty of intervening in a mountainous region where a landslide can quickly trigger a series of dangerous phenomena: water accumulation, reservoir breach, flash floods, and new mudslides.

Authorities fear a new flooding episode

The Red Cross is particularly vigilant regarding the possibility of a secondary flood.

David Fisher, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies delegation in Nepal, emphasized the importance of this risk as populations remain vulnerable.

The UN official in charge of disaster risk reduction, Kamal Kishore, also warned that several dangers could still follow.

The disaster cannot therefore be considered over. The effects of the initial landslide could continue to create new emergency situations in the coming hours or days.

Damaged health infrastructure

The health sector is also severely affected.

According to the World Health Organization, six health facilities have been damaged in the disaster. Eight health professionals are also reported missing.

These damages further complicate the humanitarian response as medical needs can quickly increase following floods and landslides.

The destruction or damage of medical structures also deprives affected populations of part of their local care capacities.

Rescue efforts face particularly challenging terrain

In the mountainous regions of Nepal, natural disasters can quickly isolate entire communities.

Cut-off roads, rivers turned into torrents, landslides, and damaged infrastructure make access to affected areas particularly complex. The blockage of humanitarian vehicles highlights the logistical difficulties faced by teams.

The priority now is to maintain access routes to affected populations, provide food and essential goods, and identify those still reported missing.

A humanitarian crisis still evolving

With over 90,000 people affected, the disaster already represents a major humanitarian operation. However, uncertainty remains regarding its evolution.

The risk of new flooding could exacerbate damages and force rescue efforts to constantly adapt their operations.

In this context, humanitarian organizations are calling for heightened vigilance. In Nepal, the landslide is no longer considered an isolated event: it could trigger a series of cascading phenomena, prolonging the crisis and increasing the needs of the populations.