Devastating floods in Nepal raise questions about past US funding cuts for hazard monitoring

Catastrophic floods have recently ravaged Nepal, following a glacier collapse in the Himalayas around August 26, 2026, which unleashed a torrent of water and debris. The disaster has resulted in over 1,000 fatalities and thousands more are reported missing, with rescue efforts ongoing amidst challenging conditions. The widespread devastation has prompted discussions regarding Nepal's preparedness for such natural hazards and the potential impact of past international aid decisions.

A key point of contention is the cessation of the US-funded "SERVIR Hindu-Kush-Himalaya (HKH)" program, a collaborative effort by USAID, NASA, and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). This initiative, which utilized satellite technology to monitor glacial lakes and potential flood and landslide risks, was reportedly halted in January 2025 following funding cuts by the Trump administration. Critics suggest these cuts, which affected other disaster risk reduction projects in Nepal, may have undermined the nation's capacity to predict and respond to the recent catastrophic flooding.

While a US State Department spokesperson stated that the program was not designed for real-time flood warnings and that the US continues to support Nepal's flood warning capabilities through other global initiatives, the abrupt termination of the SERVIR program left little time for a smooth transition of its monitoring efforts. The initial US financial response to the current crisis has also drawn criticism from aid experts, who describe it as inadequate compared to previous levels of assistance when USAID operated as an independent agency.