Nepal - Coordination meeting minutes, 8 September 2026

Content

1. Situation Update

• The latest official figures indicate that, as of 3 September, approximately 1,200 casualties had been confirmed, around 5,000 people remained missing, and approximately 3,800 people were displaced across 34 displacement centres in Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading and Kathmandu.
• Thanks to joint advocacy efforts, a further government update issued in the last few days indicates that special privileges and immunities for relief efforts are being granted to UN agencies, IFRC/ICRC and community hospitals.
• Advocacy is ongoing to extend facilitation measures to international and national NGO partners, as current guidance does not clearly include them.
• Importation and cargo clearance challenges appear to be partially resolved for some organisations, but inconsistent application remains a concern and will need to be monitored through incoming consignments. Regarding importation and customs clearance questions, partners can reach out to IMPACCT Working Group. They can write to impacct.2021@gmail.com and ask questions in the dedicated Nepal – Import and Customs whatsapp group. If needed, IMPACCT can arrange a call with interested partners on this topic.

2. Logistics updates

Access and entry points update

• The Kathmandu - Bidur route is currently passable, with travel time estimated at approximately 3–5 hours depending on road repairs, weather and monsoon-related disruptions.
• The Bidur - Rasuwa route remains significantly more difficult, with travel time reported at approximately 7 to 14 hours depending on conditions and the need for 4WD vehicles.
• Road conditions between Bidur and Rasuwa are poor, with single-lane sections, limited passing points, possible delays at checkpoints, and high risk of disruption during rain.
• High-clearance 4x4 vehicles are strongly recommended for field travel, as standard passenger vehicles may struggle to reach affected areas.
• Accommodation in some field locations is very limited, with basic facilities and potential constraints on food provision due to LP gas shortages.
• Kathmandu International Airport (KTM) is operational and acting as main entry point for humanitarian cargo with ongoing incoming bilateral donations. There are significant backlogs at the Humanitarian Staging Area (HSA), that is stretching the capacity at the site. 
• After assessments conducted in Bidur and consultations with partners, it does not seem that storage in Bidur is a gap, but there may be a need for transit storage to support with the onward movement to hard-to-reach areas. 

Nepal LTC Logistics Concept of Operations

• The LTC presented its Logistics Concept of Operations to the partners. This includes coordination and information management based in Kathmandu (Map).
• Temporary common storage is available at the Humanitarian Staging Area in Kathmandu, although space is stretched at the moment, so overflow storage capacity in Kathmandu is being sought, with potential facilities under review.
• As stated in the SOPs, cargo can be stored at the HSA for three days although due to the limitations to dispatch cargo by air, this may be extended on an ad-hoc basis as the situation evolves. 
• Airlift services from Kathmandu are available, with partner cargo movement possible once service requests and operational conditions are confirmed.
• The current MI-8 helicopter uplift capacity is limited and depends on distance, altitude, fuel requirements, weather and daily operating conditions; planning assumptions should not rely on a fixed number of rotations or tonnage per flight. Partners are encouraged to reach out and start submitting their request to support delivery planning. 
• A temporary common storage facility in Bidur is being finalised and will become available shortly.
• Common storage in Rasuwa is considered likely to be required, but the exact location remains to be determined based on partner requests and access constraints.
• Common trucking services from Bidur to Rasuwa remain under consideration but are not yet confirmed due to road access limitations.

Service Request Process

• Access to common services is through the online Service Request Form available on the Logistics Cluster website.
• The Service Request Form should be used once cargo details are known and the cargo is ready to move; broader air needs and intentions should be shared through the separate aviation needs survey.
• The LTC only provides services for the delivery of humanitarian cargo. If partners have transport requests for passengers they should fill out the WFP aviation needs survey so UNHAS can identify the needs. 
• Submitting a Service Request Form does not mean cargo should immediately be delivered to the airport or warehouse; confirmation and coordination will be provided before cargo movement.
• Partners should avoid submitting separate requests for storage and transport when the cargo is already under LTC common service management. Once the cargo is under LTC storage, they can just reach out to the team to request for onward movement.
• Cargo readiness dates, accurate weights, accurate volumes, handling-unit details and destination information are essential for planning, especially for air operations. A special note was made for dangerous goods and the criticality of flagging this type of cargo due to the risks involved in air operations. The accuracy of the information provided in the SRF will avoid unnecessary delays. 
• Partners should also select properly the intended use of the cargo as per the cargo category (e.g health) as this will support, prioritization, if needed, based on the expressed needs by the Government. 
• At the moment the transportation section on the SRF is open ended, so partners can select the delivery locations. For this purpose, GPS coordinates or map pins should be included wherever possible in the SRF, as place names may be duplicated or spelled differently. For air operations, the intended location will need to be coordinated with aviation colleagues and the sender to identify the closest feasible landing option based on landing requirements.
• Service requests must be validated through the confirmation email received after submission.
• All cargo queries can be submitted to nepal.clustercargo@wfp.org

Cargo Preparation Requirements

• Cargo should be clearly labelled with partner references, logos or other identifiers, and the automatically generated shipping label should be printed and attached wherever possible.
• Labelling should be applied at the handling-unit level that makes sense for onward movement, as pallets may need to be broken down before helicopter loading.
• Handling units should match the service modality: for air transport, cargo should be described at box, bale, carton, tent or other loadable unit level rather than only as pallets or truckloads.
• Accurate weights and dimensions are critical; incorrect measurements may delay cargo planning and movement.
• Dangerous goods must be declared in advance, properly labelled and supported by required documentation such as SDS/MSDS where applicable.
• Temperature-sensitive items can be declared in the Service Request Form, but current storage capacity may only support limited temperature ranges and may not yet guarantee cold-chain conditions.

Aviation Operations

• Current MI-8 operations can reach three locations in the Rasuwa/Langtang area, including Briddim, Langtang Village and Kyanjin Village or nearby areas.
• Additional landing-site assessments are planned, and a smaller helicopter may be added to reach locations where the MI-8 cannot land.
• Landing feasibility will be assessed by aviation crews based on the requested destination, nearby alternatives, weather, aircraft limitations and landing-zone conditions.
• Passenger services are separate from LTC cargo operations and would need to be launched through the UNHAS mechanism if there is sufficient documented demand.
• The WFP Aviation needs survey will remain open until 9 September close of business the following day. If there is sufficient demand, operations may start shortly after review.
• Partners requiring personnel movement for assessments should submit their needs through the WFP Aviation passenger survey rather than the LTC cargo Service Request Form.

Partners Updates

• Partners reported a need for air passenger movement to conduct water quality and other sectoral assessments before equipment can be dispatched. The partner was encouraged to fill the WFP Aviation survey.
• Partners requested clarity on whether cargo can be sorted, broken down and weighed at the Humanitarian Staging Area before onward movement to multiple destinations. It was clarified that access to the Humanitarian Staging Area for cargo handling is possible, but space for broader sorting or kitting is very limited due to congestion.
• Large incoming airbridge consignments are expected from Kuala Lumpur and Dubai, including shipments of approximately 80–100 metric tons on upcoming flights and around 19 metric tons uplifted from Dubai for partner cargo.
• Partners raised the need for temperature-controlled storage for pharmaceutical and medical items; the issue is recognised, but available capacity remains limited.

Coordination and Information Management

• Logistics and Telecommunications Cluster coordination meetings will continue twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays, in hybrid format from Kathmandu.
• The next meeting will take place on Friday at 14:00 Kathmandu time.
• Partners were consulted on the possible need to establish additional coordination in Bidur. Most of partners referred to coordination in Kathmandu as the preferred option. 
• Partners should subscribe to the Nepal Logistics and Telecommunications Cluster mailing list through the website and confirm the subscription via email to receive meeting invitations and updates.
• General inquiries should be sent to the shared coordination email address (npl.logscoordination@wfp.org) so that requests can be followed up by the wider coordination team.

3. Telecommunications Update

• Telecommunications support is focused on identifying ICT needs, liaising with national telecommunications and internet service providers, and assessing connectivity gaps in affected areas.
• Mobile network connectivity has reportedly been restored across most of the affected network, with national telecom providers reporting approximately 80–89% restoration.
• Connectivity in Nuwakot and Bidur areas is available in many locations, but users may experience congestion, reduced quality and reliability issues due to limited tower capacity and power constraints.
• Some telecom towers depend on fuel-powered generators, making fuel shortages a risk to network reliability.
• Common internet hubs are planned in Nuwakot, with two possible locations identified.
• Connectivity at the Humanitarian Staging Area in Kathmandu is being reviewed, and capacity gaps will be addressed.
• Additional ICT assessments are planned in hard-to-reach areas where humanitarian operations are focused.

4. AOB

• The LTC flagged the importance to share information on accessibility with the LTC to ensure the information is accurately reflected in LogIE.  LogIE is the main LTC mapping tool, where the status of the roads, traffic restrictions, etc is being monitored. 
• Partners can submit their inputs directly into the tool by making a report but they can also share via WhatsApp, or email any information they may have on accessibility or alternative routes. 

The next Logistics Cluster Coordination meeting will be held on Friday 11 September 2026, 1400 local time.

Contacts

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    Source: Nepal Rasuwa Flood Situation Report #6. OCHA