U.N. resident coordinator in Nepal says more support is needed as flood recovery continues

Nepal’s flood recovery is continuing after widespread damage and displacement, and U.N. officials say humanitarian needs have not yet been fully met. In an interview published Monday, Lila Pieters Yahia, the United Nations resident coordinator in Nepal, described what additional assistance is being prioritized as the country moves from immediate rescue efforts into longer-term recovery and rebuilding.

The interview was conducted by NPR’s A. Martínez on Aug. 31, focusing on what aid is still required for people affected by the floods and what role the United Nations is playing in bringing support to affected communities. Martínez asked what gaps remain and how the international response is being organized, as Nepal authorities and humanitarian partners continue to assess damage across affected areas.

Yahia said the U.N. and its partners are working to determine the most urgent needs on the ground and to ensure that assistance reaches people in time and in the right form. She framed the task as both humanitarian and practical, emphasizing coordination with local and national counterparts and the importance of responding to conditions that can worsen after floodwaters recede, including disruptions to basic services and ongoing vulnerabilities for families who lost homes or belongings.

The resident coordinator also described the U.N.’s approach to recovery as phased, with a continued focus on immediate protection and support while planning for follow-on help that can include temporary shelter and assistance that enables households to regain stability. She indicated that the U.N. is attempting to align its activities with the assessments being conducted in the affected regions, including the timing and scale of assistance required for different groups and locations.

In the interview, Yahia pointed to the wider challenge faced by flood-affected communities as officials manage logistics and access in areas where roads and infrastructure can be damaged. She said that humanitarian operations depend on timely information about needs and the ability to coordinate funding, supplies, and staffing among international and local organizations.

The conversation also highlighted the public process for aid delivery, including how the U.N. works with partners to coordinate response efforts rather than duplicate services. While the interview focused on needs on the ground, it also underscored that flood recovery requires sustained attention beyond the first days of emergency assistance, as people may remain displaced and lack resources for rebuilding or restarting livelihoods.

With recovery underway, the next steps described by Yahia centered on continuing assessments and adjusting support as conditions evolve. The interview suggested that the international community’s role will be measured not only by the speed of initial relief, but by whether assistance continues in line with verified needs as Nepal’s recovery progresses.