Nepal - Regional and Global Logistics call, meeting minutes, 2 September 2026

Content

1. Situation Update

• The flash flood on 26 August hit the Rasuwa-Nuwakot-Dhading corridor, with downstream impacts to Chitwan and Gorkha. More than 1,100 people are dead and approximately 4,800 remain missing, many hydropower workers are still unaccounted for in tunnels. Roads, bridges and power infrastructure are heavily damaged.
• Continued rainfalls increase the riks of additional floods. 
• The Government of Nepal is leading the relief operations, and humanitarian partners are requested to coordinate closely with the Government on relief items distribution plan.

2. Logistics Update

• The Logistics and Telecommunications Cluster, has deployed 2 staff for logistics (with another planned to deploy soon) to support coordination and logistics operations in preparation for a possible activation and to enable the provision of logistics services to partners. The Government of Nepal continues to lead the response. Formal confirmation of the Logistics and Telecommunications Cluster activation remains pending.
• Alternative routes have been identified to provide access to most of the affected areas, although significant constraints remain in certain parts of Nuwakot and Rasuwa. Lead times have also increased sharply. For example, the journey from Kathmandu to Rasuwa, which normally takes around three hours, has reportedly taken approximately 14 hours.
• Government authorities and humanitarian organisations are using helicopters for search-and-rescue and cargo movements. River transport is not viable due to continued flood risk.
• The HCT has requested the activation of the Logistics & Telecommunications Cluster. Pending confirmation from the Emergency Directors Group (EDG).
• The Rasuwagadhi border crossing remains severely damaged. Partners are advised to consider Korala in Mustang as an alternative crossing from China. A help desk supports cargo rerouting and customs clearance. 
• Tribhuvan International Airport remains fully operational as the primary international air entry point. The adjacent Humanitarian Staging Area has received most of the humanitarian cargo that has arrived in country.
• Partners need to submit a letter, cargo list and supporting documents to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. The requirement to name the national authority as consignee remains under clarification. Organisations already operating in Nepal report no major clearance issues.
• Aviation teams are arranging helicopter and cargo-drone capacity to complement road transport. Precision airdrop offers are pending government approval.
• Storage does not currently present a major constraint, but additional capacity may be required as cargo volumes increase, particularly near affected areas.

PIPELINE AND OPERATIONAL PLAELIEF MATERIALS PIPELINE AND SOURCING

• The preliminary pipeline survey records 16 responses. Thirteen organisations plan to respond in Nepal. Approximately half already operate in affected areas, while seven are new to these locations.
• WASH, health, protection and shelter are the main response sectors. Five organisations plan international cargo movements from the United Arab Emirates, India, China, Europe, the United States, Singapore and Malaysia. Other organisations use existing in-country stocks.
• Partners identify access as the main constraint. They also report potential requirements for air transport, storage and customs support, as well as possible future market shortages.
• The survey remains open until close of business on 3 September 2026. The Information Management team analyses the final responses and follows up directly with partners where required.

3.  Partners updates

• UNHRD shared that they are coordinating requests for air cargo movements through Kuala Lumpur and Dubai, with Kuala Lumpur serving as the primary hub. Approximately 5 metric tonnes have reached Kathmandu, while UNHRD tracks approximately 192 metric tonnes of potential movements from Kuala Lumpur. Full-charter rates from Kuala Lumpur range from USD 5 to USD 7 per kilogram. Commercial options from Kuala Lumpur and Dubai range from USD 2 to USD 4 per kilogram, subject to routing and minimum-volume requirements.
• WFP Aviation shared that a staff was deployed last Sunday to conduct assessments. Ongoing plans to contract a drone company to support with cargo transport and an helicopter MIA-type to be available, hopefully tomorrow. 
• Australian Humanitarian Logistics Capability shared that a C-17 with humanitarian supplies arrived this morning to Kathmandu, including hygiene kits, menstrual hygiene management kits, solar lights, solar towers, shelter tool kits and tarps. This cargo has been handed over to the Nepal Red Cross Society. For the time being, no additional flights are planned. 
• Airlink is discussing with some of their partners to provide some donated space  on commercial flights into Kathmandu. Currently this is the only airport in Nepal were they are able to provide services, same for passengers transport. Regarding last mile, the options are also limited to the roads available. Some charter options are being sconsidered from UNHRD hubs (Dubai and Kuala Lumpur). 
• Mountain Heart Nepal shared their storage needs particularly for temperature-controlled storage. 
• In response to a partner’s question, WFP Aviation clarified that the services are initially planned as free of charge a the beginning of the operation subject to funding available. 

4. Telecommunications Update

• Outages: Sharp network drop between 08:30 and 09:45 on day one. National Telecoms Company, NTC stated that ~120 sites affected (initially 152 down) and that the fiber Galchhi–Rasuwagadhi was cut. 
• Ncell (private service operator) reported 27 of their towers down and fiber cuts. Main factors: power loss and physical damage; some sites ran 2G-only to save batteries.
• Now, almost 60 to 80% of the network lost, with a steady recovery. NTC reported 110 out of 120 sites are back (this is all the border corridor). Ncell reported 24 out of 27 sites restored in the flooded area; and 75 out of 78 sites restored in the three districts up. Remaining gaps: remote/debris sites; generators and microwave filling fiber holes. Helicopters used to lift gensets/fuel/techs.
• Humanitarian comms: NTC is providing some limited free calls and also from NCell. 
• International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has sent 20 ITU satellite phones deployed for the government (10 Rasuwa and 10 Nuwakot), free 3 months to support rescue operations.
• One web LEO terminals,  available for use for NDRRMA. 
• Lastly on services for communities, trying to get direction on Last-tower pings if can be used to narrow search for missing. That would need regulatory clarity. 
• Starlink importation is not authorised in Nepal. An alternative to this can be LEO (Low Earth Orbit), the low orbit satellite terminals. 
• LTC-Telecoms is looking if these satellite terminals could be used also for humanitarian actors. 
• Regarding affected communities, currently addressing the regulatory body to see how can support with missing family members based on their last connection to a tower. 
• LTC-Telecoms is also deploying a coordinator to support assessments and coordination. 

5. AOB

Information resources:

• Nepal Flash Floods 2026 response webpage
• Nepal LogIE operational map
• Nepal Logistics Capacity Assessment
• Pipeline and operational planning survey open to be closed on the 4 September. 

Contacts