Nepal Glacial Flood Crisis Coordination Call Recap

Desmian Alexander
Manager, Resilience Programs

Published

September 03, 2026

As Nepal responds to a catastrophic glacial flood near the Nepal–Tibet border, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's International Division, convened a private sector coordination call to share timely information, identify validated needs, and help companies align support with the response and recovery effort. The discussion brought together perspectives from the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu, American Chamber of Commerce in Nepal (AmCham Nepal), Catholic Relief Services, and private sector leaders working to support affected communities.

Call Participants

Participants focused on the current operating environment, the status of U.S. Government and humanitarian response efforts, AmCham Nepal's role in coordinating business engagement, and practical considerations for companies seeking to contribute responsibly.

Situation Overview

According to information shared during the call, the glacial lake outburst rapidly cascaded into one of Nepal's most destructive flood events, affecting Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and surrounding districts. Speakers described a fast-moving disaster that destroyed road access, displaced families, overwhelmed local holding centers, and created significant search, recovery, and reconstruction challenges. As of the time of the call, the following was reported:

Over 1,050 lives lost, with 3,916 people still missing on both sides of the Nepal–Tibet border, including more than 70 U.S. citizens
3,458 people are displaced across 27 holding centers
11,814 people have been rescued, many by helicopter from cut-off mountain communities
41 bridges destroyed, severing road access to more than 20,000 families
19 schools destroyed
Infrastructure damage estimated at approximately $1.4 billion, with reconstruction costs projected to reach $5 billion

U.S. Government Response

Chargé d'Affaires Scott Urbom of the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu reported that the Embassy has been operating around the clock since the disaster unfolded. He described three immediate lines of effort: humanitarian assistance through implementing partners, support to search-and-recovery and logistics operations, and expanded consular and technical advisory support for U.S. citizens and affected communities.

U.S. humanitarian assistance was activated following a declaration of humanitarian need and now totals approximately $3.6 million, with support through implementing partners focused on food, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene, logistics, and protection.
U.S. military and response assets have supported Nepal Army search, recovery, and logistics operations, including the delivery of recovery supplies, first-aid materials, and equipment to hard-to-reach areas.
Additional consular, investigative, and disaster response personnel were deployed to support U.S. citizens, technical coordination, and field operations, including assistance connected to missing U.S. citizens.

Urbom emphasized that the Government of Nepal has launched a full Post-Disaster Needs Assessment, which will shape sector-by-sector recovery and reconstruction priorities. He encouraged companies to begin thinking beyond immediate relief and consider how private sector expertise, supply chains, and investment can support longer-term reconstruction once validated needs are clearer.

Local Perspective from AmCham Nepal

AmCham Nepal Executive Director Amir Raj Tappa provided a firsthand account after traveling to flood-affected Nuwakot the day before the call. He described helicopters landing every five to ten minutes at a Nepal Army rescue site, ferrying survivors out and supplies in. In Trishuli Bazaar, he reported that entire sections of hillside had been swept away and watermarks reached the third floors of buildings. Displaced families were arriving faster than holding centers could accommodate them, creating urgent needs for hygiene, sanitation, medicine, and safe shelter.

Tappa also highlighted an urgent and underserved need: psychosocial support for survivors experiencing severe trauma.

AmCham Nepal has helped mobilize its member network to support the response, including reported contributions of critical equipment such as excavators and portable washrooms, employee- and community-led fundraising, and amplification of trusted relief channels. These efforts position AmCham Nepal as a central connector for private sector engagement, helping align local business support with validated needs and broader humanitarian coordination.

Private Sector Response

Private sector participants noted that AmCham Nepal members have been directly affected by the disaster while also mobilizing support for the response. According to information shared during the call, member and partner efforts include in-kind equipment, employee giving, local fundraising, and corporate contributions, with individual pledges and funds ranging from approximately $100,000 to $1 million. Through its member network, AmCham Nepal is helping connect local business capacity with validated needs, elevate trusted relief channels, and coordinate private sector engagement with government and humanitarian partners.

A number of relief funds have been established to support the response, including government, local, and private sector channels. Participants noted that some funds are targeting immediate relief while others are beginning to look toward recovery and reconstruction. Companies considering financial support should clarify their giving goals, confirm that any fund aligns with internal compliance and due diligence requirements, and coordinate with AmCham Nepal and other trusted partners to ensure contributions are directed toward validated needs.

Sneh Rajbhandari, Secretary and Board Member, AmCham Nepal, and Director, Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability, Coca-Cola Nepal, also urged the global community to recognize that the disaster is concentrated in three districts—and that the rest of Nepal remains open for business, travel, and investment.

Humanitarian Response and Operational Priorities

John Service,Senior Technical Advisor for Humanitarian Response Operations at Catholic Relief Services, described an operating environment shaped by difficult terrain, disrupted access, and urgent life-sustaining needs. Relief supplies have begun reaching affected districts, but last-mile delivery remains a major constraint, particularly where roads and bridges have been destroyed. Responders identified several priorities that companies should understand as they consider support:

Access and logistics: Mountain terrain and damaged transport routes continue to make last-mile delivery difficult, increasing the importance of coordinated logistics and air support.
Shelter, water, sanitation, and health: Temporary shelter, clean water, sanitation, hygiene supplies, medicine, and medical support remain immediate priorities.
Local sourcing and cash: Where markets are functioning, local procurement and cash-based assistance can help meet household needs while supporting the local economy.
Psychosocial support: Participants emphasized the need for dignified, private support for survivors experiencing trauma.

Key Needs and Coordination Guidance

Throughout the call, speakers reinforced several critical principles:

Coordinate through official channels to avoid duplication and logistical bottlenecks
Use validated needs lists to guide financial donations and in-kind support
Sustain engagement beyond the emergency phase—reconstruction will require long-term private sector commitment, not just one-time donations
Invest in resilience—participants raised the need for early warning systems, hydrological monitoring, and AI-based flood detection tools to reduce loss of life in future events, given that 47 additional glacial lakes in the Himalayan region pose ongoing risk

How the Private Sector Can Help

The response is still in its early stages. Organizations are urged to:

Focus support on shelter, water, sanitation, medical assistance, psychosocial care, logistics, and other validated needs.
Consult appropriate U.S. Government pages—including U.S. Embassy in Nepal updates and U.S. State Department travel guidance—as well as AmCham Nepal channels and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Nepal Glacial Flood Crisis resource page for official updates, validated needs, and trusted coordination guidance.
Coordinate with AmCham Nepal as a central private sector coordination point on the ground.
Clarify giving goals and confirm internal compliance, due diligence, and fund governance requirements before contributing to or establishing a relief fund.
Explore opportunities to contribute infrastructure expertise, supply chain capacity, and longer-term investment as the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment takes shape.

What's Next

The call underscored the importance of trusted public-private relationships before, during, and after disasters. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation will continue to monitor the situation and support private sector coordination. Organizations seeking guidance on how to support can contact the Foundation at resilience@uschamber.com.