Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged continued Australian support for Nepal’s rescue, recovery and reconstruction efforts following the devastating floods and landslides that struck the Nepal-China border region in August.

Albanese made the commitment during a meeting with Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

According to details shared after the meeting, Albanese expressed condolences to those affected by the disaster and said Australia would continue working closely with Nepal to provide assistance where it is most urgently required.

Australia’s assistance to Nepal

Australia has already provided substantial humanitarian assistance following the disaster.

The Australian government initially announced a A$5 million assistance package on August 28 for affected communities. The support was directed toward immediate humanitarian needs, including food, emergency shelter, clean water and sanitation, while additional personnel were deployed to assist with the response.

Australia subsequently announced another A$3 million in humanitarian assistance, bringing its government support to A$8 million at that stage. The package included humanitarian supplies and logistics support, while the Royal Australian Air Force was involved in transporting assistance to Nepal.

Australia later expanded its response by deploying specialist personnel, including drone operators from Australian emergency services, to support search and rescue operations and provide aerial mapping and imaging.

Australia’s current official crisis information lists A$11 million in humanitarian assistance for Nepal, including funding for the Emergency Action Alliance appeal, the World Food Programme, Australian NGOs and additional humanitarian supplies and logistics.

Missing Australian citizens

The disaster has also affected Australian nationals who were in the region when the floods and landslides occurred.

Albanese referred to Australians who remain missing and expressed sympathy for their families during his meeting with Shah. Australian authorities have continued working with Nepali officials and local partners to locate missing citizens and provide consular assistance.

Meeting during UN General Assembly

The meeting took place as Shah participates in the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, where Nepal has been highlighting the consequences of the disaster and broader issues related to climate vulnerability, recovery and international support.

For Nepal, continued international assistance remains important as authorities move from immediate rescue and relief toward the longer process of restoring damaged infrastructure, communities and livelihoods.

Australia has indicated that its engagement will continue beyond the immediate emergency, with support extending to recovery and reconstruction needs.

The meeting between Shah and Albanese therefore comes at a stage when Nepal is seeking sustained international cooperation as it addresses the long-term consequences of the disaster.