Nepal - Coordination meeting minutes, 11 September 2026

Content

1. Situation Update

• As per the latest NDRRMA update of 9 September, 1,369 people were reported deceased, 5,132 remained out of contact and 13,646 had been rescued.
• A total of 3,395 displaced people are staying across 34 sites in Nuwakot and Rasuwa, including 2,620 people across 25 sites in Nuwakot.
• Operations were shifting from search and rescue to relief and recovery, although rescue activities continued.
• Emergency warehouse procedures were amended on 6 September to allow relief cargo to be released to the United Nations, the Red Cross and community hospitals.
• Advocacy was continuing through coordination channels to extend these arrangements to international and national non-governmental organisations; no definitive response had yet been received.

2. Logistics updates

Access and entry points update

• Road conditions remained broadly unchanged from the previous coordination update and continued to depend on rainfall and ongoing repairs.
• Travel from Kathmandu towards Bidur was generally possible, although roadworks and rain could increase journey times.
• The Bidur–Dhunche route was reported to require approximately 12–14 hours under prevailing conditions.
• Alternative routes had been identified, but conditions were changing frequently. Partners are encouraged to share any information they have on the status of the roads via npl.logscoordination@wfp.org 
• Access beyond Dhunche remains particularly difficult. Roads are described as muddy, narrow and slippery, with some locations cut off by rivers and requiring possible air support.

LTC Logistics Common Services

• Approximately 70 mt of partner cargo have been received at the humanitarian staging area on behalf of three partners; part of this cargo has already been dispatched.
• Approximately 90 metric tons of partner cargo are in the broader transport pipeline, including confirmed requests and anticipated movements.
• Additional storage capacity in and around Kathmandu is being procured. Opening is expected soon. 
• Partners were requested to provide advance information on all incoming shipments, even where final distribution plans were not yet confirmed, to support warehouse and transport planning and reduce congestion. Partners are encouraged to share this information even if not final with npl.logscoordination@wfp.org
• All common services provided by the LTC, including storage, transport, offloading and warehouse labour are free to users.
• Requests for storage and transport were to be submitted through the online Service Request Form (SRF). The Standard Operating Procedures (SRF) are also online and subject to revision as the operation evolves.
• Road transport was not yet a regular component of the concept of operations, but exceptional requests for difficult-to-reach areas could be assessed subject to need and capacity (email nepal.clustercargo@wfp.org). Requests for routine movements within Kathmandu will not be supported. 
• A Mobile Storage Unit (MSU) is being transported to Bidur following weather-related delays and is expected to become operational within approximately 48 hours. The initial storage capacity would be one Mobile Storage Unit of 320 m2, with possible expansion if demand justified it. Bidur would initially function primarily as a transit hub based on the demands expressed by partners. The Bidur option will be added to the online service request form once the facility is operational. Eligible humanitarian cargo stored at Bidur can be included in onward air movements, subject to prioritisation and operational feasibility.
• Air cargo was planned to be staged through Bidur because of its proximity and lower elevation relative to final destinations. Partners would not be required to arrange transport to Bidur; the common service would move eligible cargo there.

Air Transport

• The available helicopter is dedicated to cargo operations. Passenger services are not yet available as WFP Aviation is assessing the need. For this purpose, the survey on passenger and additional air-service needs will remain open until 14 September. Eight responses have been received, which was considered insufficient to justify a decision on additional capacity. Partners with a need for passenger transport are encouraged to fill the survey. Previously submitted responses did not need to be resubmitted.
• The survey was intended for forward planning and did not replace a formal service request form. Specific movements would still require origin, destination, consignee details, cargo weight and volume, dangerous-goods information and other operational data. Partners are encouraged to submit the SRF for helicopter transport services as soon as they have a dispatch plan. 
• Cargo helicopter operations had begun, with approximately 300 kg moved on the previous day and 300 kg on the day of the meeting. Capacity was expected to increase progressively.
• New landing sites would require technical assessment and should be submitted through the Logistics and Telecommunications Cluster SRF with accurate GPS coordinates. Service availability could not be guaranteed until the assessment was completed.
• Drone services would be available for locations inaccessible by road or helicopter. Feasibility would depend on the cargo, origin, destination, operating base and accurate coordinates; partners should submit the destination requirement rather than detailing the transport mode.

Importation and Customs Celarance

• Partners planning incoming international shipments were encouraged to notify the LTC and submit service requests as early as possible. Even if there is no request to the LTC to store the cargo, partners can still provide these figures (via npl.logscoordination@wfp.org) to support planning and cargo management at the HSA.
• Customs-release experiences remained inconsistent and appeared to depend partly on advance coordination. At least one consignment for humanitarian partners (International NGOs) was confirmed as released.
• One incoming shipment from Kuala Lumpur (ECHO via UNHRD) is tentatively expected during the weekend, pending government approval.
• One partner reported distributing relief items valued at approximately NPR 55 million, including hygiene, winterisation, life-saving, kitchen and dignity kits, with further local procurement in the pipeline. The same partner reported major transport constraints in Rasuwa and planned to submit requests for helicopter cargo movements and possible passenger support for field teams.
• Airlink shared that their pipeline included 12 cargo requests supported by 48 responders and approximately 119 metric tons of tents, non-food items and food expected to arrive around 21 September. Details would be shared as they became available.

3. Telecommunications

• Common internet connectivity and printing services are being established at the HSA and were expected to become operational within one day.
• Common information technology and connectivity support could be provided to partners upon request.
• Technical support for urgent power needs could also be considered, including possible solar-based solutions where fuel or electricity shortages affected operations.
• Mobile-network coverage and service-gap information has been requested from the national telecommunications authority. The information would be shared publicly once authorised and available.

4. Any Other Business

• Partners were reminded to subscribe to the Nepal Logistics and Telecommunications mailing list and confirm their subscription by email to receive updates and meeting invitations.
• Presentation slides and meeting minutes will be published on the Nepal floods operation webpage. Meeting recordings will not be shared in order to protect participant privacy.
• Future coordination meetings would be held every Tuesday and Friday at 15:00.

The next LTC Coordination meeting will be held on Tuesday, 15 September, 1500 local time.

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