Nepal

Nepal in numbers

• Ranked 143rd in the Human Development Index.
• 17.5% of the population lives in poverty.
• Faces over 450 disaster events each year, and it’s increasing.
• On 26 August 2026, a major flash flood destroyed communities in the Rasuwa district. The International Federation of the Red Cross estimates 93,000 people may have been affected by the floods.
• On 3 November 2023, a magnitude of 6.4 earthquake hit western part of Nepal in the Karnali province. 133 people died. The Nepal Red Cross distributed thousands of tarpaulins for shelters, blankets and mattresses, as well as hundreds of dignity and hygiene kits.

Red Cross and Red Crescent movement support

Nepal Red Cross is Nepal's largest humanitarian organisation, with branches in all 77 districts and a nationwide network of 343 staff and more than 89,000 volunteers active in providing humanitarian support across the country. 

It supports communities affected by disasters, health emergencies and other crises through emergency response, health services, blood programmes and community resilience initiatives across the country.

As well as responding to emergencies, the Red Cross has been supporting communities in Nepal for decades to improve lives in the long term.

Nepal is vulnerable to climate change

Nepal’s mountainous terrain and proximity to glaciers make it acutely vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Glaciers are melting twice as fast as they were 25 years ago, and with temperatures soaring, it means Nepal is vulnerable to floods and extreme landslides. We're working with communities in Nepal to build resilience to climate change.

Combatting environmental poverty

We’re combatting environmental poverty by using community-led, nature based solutions. This programme, running from 2024-2028, is improving the conservation of endangered species and protecting the environment.

Some of the key actions include ensuring vulnerable communities have access to opportunities that diversify their source of income and supports them to sustainably manage their natural resources.

Information learnt will be used to strengthen conservation policy and inform decision making. We’ll also establish locally-led information management systems for monitoring endangered species.

By the end of the programme, arable lands will be actively protected or conserved, people will see an increased income, women and girls will feel more empowered and community-based groups will be supported to conserve and govern natural resource use.

Addressing health inequalities

From 2022-2025, the British Red Cross is improving the health of the more disadvantaged population, focusing on reproductive health, sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene.

We’ll be strengthening local health facilities, partnering with local government, improving water, sanitation and hygiene facilities and primary health care infrastructure.

We’re also building up the capacity of healthcare facilities and ensuring births are attended by someone trained in health.