Nepal - Meeting minutes, 22 September 2026

Content

1. Situation Update

• The latest government update indicated 1,451 confirmed deaths, 5,745 people still out of contact and 13,784 people rescued as of 21 September as per the NDRRMA latest report.
• The number of displacement sites decreases to 21 across affected districts. 
• A total of 1,215 displaced people remain in displacement sites, reflecting a reduction in displacement figures representing a decrease of 528 since the previous update. This included 306 people in Nuwakot, 788 in Rasuwa and 121 in Dhading.
• Recovery and management of bodies and human remains remained ongoing.
• Relief materials continued to be dispatched to affected districts by road and air.

2. Logistics updates

Access to affected areas

• The LogIE platform continues to be updated with road-access information, holding centres, and access constraints. 
• Road status information is collected from partners, field teams, and operational actors, with partner contributions remaining critical to maintaining current access information. 
• Several road segments in the affected areas remain accessible only to four-wheel-drive vehicles, while some routes remain inaccessible due to ongoing damage and landslides. 
• Heavy rainfall is forecast between 25 and 27 September and may significantly affect road accessibility and operational planning. 
• Partners are encouraged to report newly identified access constraints and changes to road conditions to support common operational planning.

Cargo dispatches from the HSA

• Consolidated standard operating procedures (SOPs) for humanitarian relief consignments are being developed with the Resident Coordinator’s Office and the Humaitarian Country Team.
• Partners are reminded that relief activities should be coordinated with the concerned municipality to validate response needs before dispatch. 
• Cargo movements continue to require supporting documentation from the Chief District Office (CDO) and NDRRMA to facilitate onward transport and distribution. 
• Partners report that cargo movements are progressing where the required approvals and documentation are in place. 
• Contact details of the dedicated government committee supporting clearance processes are shared through LTC channels for partners requiring additional guidance.

Cargo prioritization for airlifts

• All requests are to be submitted through the Service Request Form. If there is a need for priorititization of the requests, this would be referred to the relevant cluster co-leads for resolution.
• Airlift prioritization continues to be coordinated through government and inter-cluster mechanisms and is based on verified operational needs. 
• Increasing demand for air services is noted, and prioritization criteria may become more important as cargo volumes continue to grow. 
• Priority consideration continues to be given to locations accessible only by air and to areas reporting critical shortages of essential relief items. 
• Partners are encouraged to coordinate needs verification through relevant clusters and local authorities to support prioritization decisions and avoid duplication.

3. LTC Logistics Updates 

Air transport

• Air operations have completed 25 helicopter rotations since activation on 15 September. 
• More than 100 mt of cargo is currently in the transport pipeline, and demand for air services continues to increase. 
• Flight schedules and rotations are being adjusted to accommodate growing cargo requirements. 
• One MI-8 helicopter remains available for humanitarian cargo operations. 
• The current operational focus is on bulk cargo movements to locations beyond Dhunche that remain inaccessible by road.
• Partners requesting new delivery locations are encouraged to provide accurate GPS coordinates and detailed location information to support landing-zone assessments. 
• Landing-zone information continues to be updated as new assessments are completed. Where a requested location is unsuitable, nearby alternative delivery points may be proposed. 
• Drone operations remain available for selected short-range movements. Suitability depends on cargo requirements, line-of-sight restrictions, accessibility and operational feasibility. 
• Partners are now able to request transport from both Kathmandu and Bidur, and cargo already positioned in Bidur can be uplifted directly for onward air transport.

Service Requests and Operational Planning

• Partners are reminded to submit Service Request Forms as early as possible and provide accurate cargo details, weights, dimensions, destinations and coordinates. 
• Changes to destinations, cargo quantities, schedules or load plans should be communicated in advance to avoid operational disruptions and delays. 
• Delivery locations should have sufficient personnel and handling capacity available for cargo reception and offloading. 
• All communication related to cargo movements should be coordinated through LTC operational focal points to ensure centralized planning and tasking. 
• Partners are requested to provide advance notice before delivering cargo to LTC storage facilities to allow proper scheduling and handling arrangements.

LTC Activities

• Common trucking services between Kathmandu and Dhunche are operational, and initial transport movements have been completed successfully. 
• The reopening of the Bailey Bridge at Devighat improves access opportunities for areas west of the river and may support additional road-based cargo deliveries. 
• Temporary common storage remains available in Kathmandu and Bidur. 
• Additional storage capacity of approximately 1,100 m² is being established in Kathmandu to support ongoing response operations. 
• Planning continues for the establishment of additional storage capacity in Rasuwa to support onward cargo movements. 
• A total of 61 organisations has engaged with LTC coordination activities. Nine partners are currently using common storage services, and eight partners have received transport support.
• Humanitarian cargo movements by road and air continue to increase as response operations expand.

Operational Issues Raised

• A request was raised concerning transport support from Rasuwa to inaccessible wards where supplies are already pre-positioned within the district. Options for helicopter and drone support are being explored based on operational requirements. 
• Partners highlight the importance of triangulating information from communities, municipalities and district authorities due to differing reports on needs and access conditions. 
• Partners report successful delivery of significant volumes of relief cargo to hard-to-reach locations through LTC-supported air operations.

4. Telecommunications

• Partners are reminded to subscribe to LTC communication channels, including the mailing list and WhatsApp group, to ensure receipt of operational updates, meeting information and information products.

The next LTC Coordination meeting will be held on Friday, 25 September, 15:00 local time.

Contacts