The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has approved US$1.16 million in emergency funding to restore essential HIV and tuberculosis services in Nepal following catastrophic floods, according to a press release. The announcement, issued from Geneva on 30 October 2026, outlines how the funds will help maintain uninterrupted treatment for people living with HIV and those recovering from or at risk of TB. Severe damage to road networks, transit systems and healthcare facilities has disrupted service delivery across affected areas. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will implement the funds in coordination with Nepal’s health authorities. The response focuses on reaching remote communities and people displaced by the disaster.
On 26 August 2026, flash floods swept through northern and central Nepal, causing widespread damage along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors. As of late September 2026, at least 1,400 people were confirmed dead, more than 5,200 were missing and more than 3,600 were displaced. Thousands of buildings were damaged, including schools, government offices and health facilities. Dozens of bridges were washed away by the floodwaters. The scale of destruction has severely limited access to healthcare in the affected regions.
The emergency funds will be used to procure several months’ supply of medication and laboratory equipment for areas isolated by flood damage. Among the items being deployed are new portable machines that use a mouth swab to detect TB and a digital X-ray system designed to quickly and accurately screen people for signs of the disease. Preventing and treating HIV and TB both require regular testing and reliable access to essential medications. Damage to roads and health posts has cut off people already on treatment. It has also hindered the country’s efforts to identify and treat new cases.
“This disaster requires a swift and effective response,” said Mark Edington, Head of Grant Management at the Global Fund. “These funds will quickly shore up and replace stores of lifesaving medicines and equipment and help ensure that people in the hardest-hit areas aren’t left without essential healthcare.”
The response underscores the need for health systems that can adapt and continue delivering services in the wake of disasters. Resources from the Emergency Fund help detect and address potential disease outbreaks before they compound damage caused by fires, floods, typhoons or earthquakes. This allows governments and communities to focus on broader emergency response.
Since 2014, the Global Fund’s Emergency Fund has provided US$174.3 million to dozens of countries facing conflict, extreme weather events and health crises. Recent allocations have supported conflict-affected areas in Sudan and communities at the center of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The latest funding for Nepal continues this pattern of rapid support in crisis contexts. UNDP’s role in implementation is intended to ensure delivery to the most isolated and displaced populations. The initiative reinforces efforts to safeguard HIV and TB services during Nepal’s recovery.