- Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed Canada’s solidarity with Nepal following devastating Bhotekoshi River floods that destroyed infrastructure and left several people missing.
- Canadian authorities are monitoring reports of missing citizens in affected regions while search teams navigate difficult conditions to reach stranded communities.
- Canada has historically supported Nepal through major humanitarian crises, including providing over C$51.7 million for relief following the 2015 earthquake.
- Severe damage to roads and bridges has hindered communication and rescue efforts, leaving many families waiting for news of their loved ones.
Ottawa/Kathmandu: Canada has expressed solidarity with Nepal following the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi River, as rescue teams continue searching for missing people and families wait anxiously for news of their loved ones.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condolences to those affected by the disaster, saying Canadians are thinking of the families who have lost loved ones and those who are still waiting for answers about missing relatives.
“Canadians are thinking of everyone caught up in this crisis, the families who have lost loved ones, and all those still waiting for answers,” Carney said in a message posted on social media.
The floods have caused widespread destruction in Rasuwa and surrounding areas, damaging homes, roads, bridges and other infrastructure. The sudden rise in water also disrupted transportation and communication links and left some communities difficult to reach.
For families affected by the disaster, the damage to physical infrastructure is only part of the tragedy. Many are facing the painful uncertainty of not knowing whether their relatives are safe. With roads and bridges damaged and some areas cut off, obtaining reliable information has become a major challenge.
Search and rescue teams have been working in difficult conditions to locate missing people and assist those stranded by the floods. Authorities are continuing to assess the extent of the damage and update information as rescue personnel reach affected areas.
The disaster has also raised concern in Canada because Canadian citizens are among those reported missing in connection with the floods. Canadian authorities are monitoring the situation and working through established consular channels to determine the condition of Canadian nationals who may have been affected.
Canadian citizens in Nepal have been encouraged to follow the instructions of local authorities and register with Canada's Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) service so that officials can communicate with them during an emergency.
Canada and Nepal share longstanding ties
Canada's expression of sympathy comes amid a longstanding relationship between Canada and Nepal.
The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1965 and have since developed cooperation in development, education, trade, humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping and other areas. The relationship has also been strengthened by growing people-to-people connections between the two countries.
Thousands of Nepalis now live, study and work in Canada, while Canadians have long maintained links with Nepal through tourism, education, development work and business. These connections mean that a disaster in Nepal is followed closely by families and communities across Canada.
Canada has also been a longstanding development and humanitarian partner of Nepal. Over the years, Canadian assistance has supported projects in areas including education, governance, economic development, poverty reduction and community development.
Canada's support during Nepal's disasters
Canada has previously responded to some of Nepal's most difficult humanitarian emergencies.
Following the devastating earthquake of 2015, Canada provided significant humanitarian assistance for emergency relief and recovery. The Canadian government committed C$51.7 million through the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund, including matching donations made by Canadians, with additional assistance delivered through humanitarian and development partners.
Canada has also supported Nepal following more recent natural disasters. After the 2023 earthquake, Canadian humanitarian assistance helped provide emergency shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene services and financial assistance to affected communities.
Following floods and landslides in Nepal in 2024, Canada allocated C$350,000 through the Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund to support emergency relief for affected communities.
The previous assistance reflects Canada's longstanding humanitarian engagement with Nepal. However, any new Canadian financial or material assistance specifically for the latest Bhotekoshi floods should be confirmed through an official announcement rather than assumed from Canada's earlier responses.
A disaster that has shaken communities
The Bhotekoshi floods have once again exposed the vulnerability of communities living in Nepal's mountainous and river-valley regions.
The sudden nature of the flooding left little time for people in some areas to respond. The destruction of bridges and roads has made rescue work more difficult, while damaged infrastructure has disrupted the movement of people and essential supplies.
The cause and full scale of the disaster are still being assessed. Authorities and experts are examining the factors behind the sudden surge of water, including possible high-altitude geological and glacial events.
For people living in the affected communities, however, the immediate questions are much more personal: Who has survived? Who is still missing? Where can displaced families find shelter? And when will those separated from their loved ones finally receive an answer?
As rescue operations continue, families remain gathered around phones and communication channels, waiting for calls and messages that could bring either relief or heartbreaking news.
Prime Minister Carney's message offers a reminder that Nepal is not facing the tragedy alone. Canada's longstanding relationship with Nepal, strengthened by humanitarian cooperation and deep people-to-people ties, has created connections that extend far beyond governments.
For now, the priority remains clear: finding those who are missing, rescuing those who are stranded and supporting families who have lost their homes, livelihoods and, in some cases, loved ones.
As Nepal begins the difficult task of responding to the disaster and eventually rebuilding affected communities, international solidarity—including the support expressed by Canada—will remain important.
