Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) has said that it is engaging with its board to address Nepal’s urgent request for immediate financial support following the devastating Bhote Koshi floods.
In its response to a letter from Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle and Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Gita Chaudhary, the co-chairs of the FRLD Board, Camila Minerva Rodriguez Tavarez and Georg Borsting, expressed solidarity with Nepal and said they were working to respond to the request as rapidly as possible.
“We express our deepest sympathies to the people of Nepal in the wake of the overwhelming loss and damage caused by the catastrophic Bhote Koshi flash floods,” the co-chairs said in their response to Nepal’s request. “We would like to reassure you that we are engaging with the FRLD Board to address your urgent request as rapidly as possible.”
The FRLD said it would recommend that its board consider options under its existing mandates, frameworks, structures, policies and procedures to ensure that its response to Nepal is both swift and meaningful.
The government appealed to the FRLD to treat the August 26 disaster as a special case and provide immediate financial support. In their letter to the FRLD, the two ministers argued that Nepal was bearing disproportionate losses from climate-related disasters despite contributing little to global greenhouse gas emissions.
The government has estimated the Bhotekoshi flood reconstruction cost at Rs 723.31 billion.
The response does not commit the Fund to a specific amount or immediate disbursement.
Minister for Foreign Affairs said in an interview a few days ago that Nepal had requested $20 million in emergency assistance from the FLRD.
The FLRD was established under the United Nations climate process to provide financial support for developing countries particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in responding to loss and damage.
