Kathmandu: A new report ‘When the climate becomes a threat: Evidence of Climate Change induced Loss and Damage in Nepal’ by Dan Church Aid (DCA) was launched on 8 November at the COP 26. The report was launched in the presence of Minister Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Ministry of Forests and Environment. The report assesses the situation in three municipalities in Nepal.

According to a statement issued by DCA, Nepal is vulnerable, and affected both by melting glaciers, and increased temperatures and rain. In such a mountainous country, this has dramatic effects. All three municipalities in the report have experienced either flooding or landslides, two natural hazards which are linked to climate change. The report highlights a variety of findings based on the research in the following municipalities: Aathbis of Dailkeh district, Panchadewal Binayak of Achham district and Barbardiya of Bardiya district.

Similarly, the report shows how people were forced to leave their houses, and how water and landslides destroyed their property and fields and killed their cattle. None of the three municipalities received international support, but local authorities and civil society organizations provided some immediate support. However, this support was far from enough and 82 percent of the households had to take out loans to recover and reestablish their homes. Nine percent chose to permanently leave their homes and can thus be called climate-induced displaced people.