The World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of AUD 2 million from the Government of Australia to support emergency food assistance and logistics operations for communities affected by devastating floods in northern Nepal, according to a press release issued on 29 August 2026 from Kathmandu. The funding will bolster relief efforts led by the Government of Nepal following the disaster. WFP has already begun deploying food supplies and logistics assets to reach isolated populations. The support underscores a longstanding partnership between Australia and WFP in humanitarian response. It arrives as thousands of families face urgent needs across affected districts.
The floods struck northern Nepal on 26 August 2026, causing widespread destruction, particularly in Rasuwa and downstream districts. Thousands of people have been left in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Damage to roads, bridges, settlements, and critical infrastructure has severely disrupted access to affected communities. This has created significant challenges for relief operations. Humanitarian responders are working to navigate cut-off areas and difficult terrain.
Through Australia’s timely support, WFP will strengthen its capacity to provide life-saving food assistance and logistics services in support of the Government of Nepal’s response. The agency has already dispatched 2.4 metric tons of ready-to-eat food, including high-energy biscuits, for families without access to cooking facilities. WFP is also facilitating the transportation of relief items through air and ground operations. The contribution will enable continued logistics support, including transportation and coordination of humanitarian supplies. It will also enhance responders’ ability to reach communities isolated by damaged infrastructure.
“Australia has been a longstanding partner of WFP and we are deeply grateful to the Government of Australia for this timely and generous support,” said Riaz Lodhi, WFP Representative and Country Director in Nepal.
He noted that thousands of families are facing immense hardship in the aftermath of the disaster. H.E. Simon Ernst, the Australian Ambassador to Nepal, extended condolences to the Government and people of Nepal following the tragic event. He said the contribution reflects Australia’s commitment to supporting communities affected by disasters across the region. Ernst added that the funding will help ensure critical aid reaches people in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
As part of the emergency response, WFP is working closely with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the Ministry of Home Affairs, local authorities, UN agencies, and humanitarian partners. Joint efforts focus on assessing needs and ensuring assistance reaches those most affected. Additional personnel, food supplies, and logistics assets remain on standby. Humanitarian needs continue to evolve as the response progresses. Coordination among partners remains central to the ongoing operation.