Nepal - Meeting minutes, 15 September 2026

Content

1. Situation Update

• As of 14 September, official figures indicated 1,395 deaths, 5,130 people still out of contact and 13,737 people rescued.
• A total of 2,482 people remained displaced across 33 sites, approximately 1,000 fewer than in the previous update. This included 1,499 people in Nuwakot, 825 in Rasuwa and 94 in Dhading.
• Assessments of potential land for temporary shelters were completed in Bidur Municipality and Belkotgadhi in Nuwakot, Galchi and Gajuri in Dhading, and locations in Rasuwa.
• The Government approved cash assistance for temporary accommodation and livelihoods and initiated a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment to inform recovery and reconstruction planning.
• Bidur continues to serve as a transit point for onward assistance to Rasuwa, where access remains difficult

2. Logistics updates

Access to affected areas

• Travel from Kathmandu to Bidur takes approximately two to three hours.
• Travel from Bidur to Rasuwa by four-wheel-drive vehicle was estimated at approximately nine hours, while travel from Kathmandu to Rasuwa was estimated at approximately 12–18 hours, subject to road and weather conditions.
• Multiple strategic road corridors remained disrupted or restricted, including sections of the Prithvi Highway and Tribhuvan Highway, requiring alternative routes. An Acrow bridge at Devighat had been installed and was operational, improving access for relief movements.
• Government figures indicated that response fuel stocks remained available, including 15,000 litres of aviation fuel in Nuwakot, a further 145,000 litres supplied on 14 September, and 150 LPG cylinders dispatched to the District Coordination Office in Rasuwa.
• Humanitarian organisations operating in Rasuwa are generally carrying fuel in jerry cans. Local authorities may support agencies deployed in affected areas, but no consolidated list of fuel stations and contacts is currently available.
• An ongoing road assessment mission is examining access to Dhunche and the feasibility of downstream logistics operations.
• A partner convoy of two trucks travelling on the west-bank route via the Galchi Bridge reported very difficult conditions but continued to progress. The route may not have been used by trucks since the floods.

Cargo dispatches from the HSA

• The information shared by the Resident Coordinator Office after a meeting with the NDRRMA clarified the steps to follow by International and National NGOs that are importing cargo under the one-door policy where NDRRMA acts as the consignee of the cargo. 
• Partners must obtain government clearance before shipping or dispatching humanitarian cargo from the HAS to the affected areas. These are the steps to followed as per NDRRMA indications:

1. Prior to dispatch to the affected areas, NGOs and INGOs are required to coordinate with the concerned local governments (Palikas) to confirm the specific relief needs on the ground.
2. The respective Palikas should then coordinate with the Chief District Administration Office (CDO) and formally communicate the identified needs to NDRRMA.
3. Upon receiving the request through this channel, NDRRMA will promptly issue the necessary clearance for the release and movement of the cargo.
4. A dedicated committee, led by Joint Secretary Mr. Pradeep Koirala, has been established within NDRRMA to expedite this process.

• NGOs and INGOs may directly liaise with this committee to facilitate and accelerate the clearance process.
• NDRRMA clearance is mandatory for NGOs and INGOs before arranging the dispatch of relief cargo to affected areas.
• The committee can also provide guidance on priority needs in the affected locations and advise organizations on the most appropriate relief items and dispatch arrangements. Obtaining the clearance remains the responsibility of the requesting organisation; the cluster cannot secure clearance on behalf of partners.

Cargo cleared through this process is received at the Humanitarian Staging Area and may be released only after the national authority issues dispatch instructions to the relevant district or local government.

• A Service Request Form is mandatory when cluster-supported storage or transport is required, even when the cargo remains under government ownership. It is not required when cargo is fully handed over to the Government and no further cluster support or organisational involvement is requested.
• Locally procured goods can be submitted for common storage and transport services directly. Coordination with the receiving district or local authority remains strongly recommended to confirm priority items and quantities.
• UN agencies, the Nepal Red Cross and community hospitals were granted exceptions to have simplified dispatch arrangements, allowing them to manage onward movement according to their programme plans after clearance.
• Concerns were raised about ownership visibility, donor reporting and proof of final delivery under the current process. 

•     The current one-door policy for customs was confirmed as providing exemption from customs duties and value-added tax. Airline and terminal ground-handling arrangements remain separate.

LTC Logistics Updates

• A total of 61 organisations were engaged with the Logistics and Telecommunications Cluster since the beginning of the response. 
• Common storage has received 184 m3 of cargo on behalf of four partners, while 8 mt have been dispatched through common transport services.
• Additional overflow warehouse capacity in Kathmandu is being contracted, with finalisation expected by the end of the week. Government authorisation will be required for cargo movements between the staging area and the additional warehouse.
• A transit storage facility of approximately 200 m2 is being established in Bidur, with additional capacity planned. The Bidur location is now available for selection in the Service Request Form.
• Demand for additional coordination capacity in Bidur is being reviewed, as the location is increasingly used as a transit point for onward logistics.
• Service requests should be initiated at least 72 hours before the required service date. Submission must be confirmed through the automated verification email; acknowledgement is expected within 24 hours and a status decision within 72 hours. Each destination requires a separate Service Request Form.
• The Kathmandu Humanitarian Staging Area operates from 07:00 to 19:00, seven days a week. Temporary transit storage is normally limited to three days, and cargo should be delivered only after confirmation from the cluster.
• Cargo should be declared at the smallest practical handling-unit level, with accurate weights and volumes. Dangerous goods must be declared, marked with the relevant UN identification and hazard label, and accompanied by a Safety Data Sheet.
• All cargo requests for helicopter use must be channelled through the cluster focal points (nepal.clustercargo@wfp.org) rather than reaching out to WFP Aviation.
• Changes to destination, timing, weight, dimensions or loading plans should be communicated at least 48 hours in advance. Late changes may affect service provision.
• Requests should specify exact pickup and delivery locations, preferably with GPS coordinates. Cargo for air transport should arrive at the Humanitarian Staging Area at least 24 hours before movement, and the receiving organisation must be present and able to receive, move and distribute the cargo at destination.

Helicopter transport

• Air transport to inaccessible communities in Rasuwa is prioritised for life-saving cargo.
• Delivery within Nuwakot is generally being avoided where road access is considered sufficient; cargo may instead be collected from Bidur for onward movement to Rasuwa.
• Helicopter payloads depend on altitude, temperature, weather, landing-zone constraints and surrounding obstacles. Requests have no overall ceiling, as multiple sorties may be arranged.
• The current MI-8 contract is for cargo only. Passenger transport on the cargo aircraft is not permitted.
• A smaller aircraft capable of carrying approximately three to four passengers is being contracted for ad hoc operational movements, particularly for staff supporting distribution or handover activities.
• The planned passenger aircraft may carry approximately 400 kilograms without passengers or about 300 kilograms with one passenger, subject to operational conditions.
• Passenger services are not yet operational, and passenger requests should not yet be submitted. Procedures will be circulated once contracting, safety, legal and due-diligence requirements are complete.
• A drone delivery service is available for small consignments to point destinations across valleys, subject to agreement and permission from the relevant district authority.
• Cargo prioritisation is being discussed with humanitarian coordination structures, including the inter-cluster coordination mechanism.
• Landing locations have been identified in parts of Rasuwa, but final landing points will be confirmed against requested destinations, local access and operational assessments.
• Coordination meetings are held every Tuesday and Friday in Kathmandu and online, with the possibility of future meetings in Bidur.

3. Telecommunications

• Common information technology support remains available to operational teams upon request (khawar.ilyas@wfp.org).
• No additional substantive telecommunications constraints were reported during the meeting.

The next LTC Coordination meeting will be held on Friday, 18 September, 1500 local time.

Contacts