Nepal observes Gen Z protest anniversary amid flood recovery and climate compensation demands
Nepal commemorated the first anniversary of Gen Z protests that forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli from office, though families of those who died criticised the incumbent prime minister's absence from ceremonies. As the nation dealt with the aftermath of catastrophic floods triggered by a glacial lake outburst in Rasuwa district that killed over 1,100 people, parliament urged the government to accelerate relief efforts and secure international climate compensation for climate-related losses.
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Nepal marked its first 'Gen Z Martyrs' Day' on 8 September, commemorating youth-led protests one year earlier that challenged corruption and a social media ban, ultimately forcing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign and bringing former chief justice Sushila Karki to power as interim leader. At ceremonies in Kathmandu, Karki called for 'sincere efforts for good governance and transformation.' However, families of those killed during the unrest openly criticised the current prime minister for not attending, interpreting his absence as evidence that the government's commitment to accountability had diminished.
The anniversary coincided with Nepal's ongoing recovery from catastrophic floods. On 26 August, a glacial lake outburst in Rasuwa district caused devastation that killed more than 1,100 people. In a special parliamentary session on 9 September, lawmakers demanded the government intensify search-and-rescue operations, provide compensation and loans to affected communities, address price increases in disaster zones and pursue compensation from developed nations for climate-related losses. More than 21,000 security personnel have been mobilised for relief work, and Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has engaged with over twenty donor agencies to coordinate a Rapid Disaster Needs Assessment.
By 11 September, Nepalese officials formally requested 20 million dollars in international climate compensation, arguing that a country contributing negligibly to global emissions should not bear disproportionate costs from climate change. They specifically highlighted glacial retreat as a consequence of warming. Scientists cautioned that glacial lake outburst floods are expected to increase in frequency as temperatures rise, presenting a growing threat to downstream communities throughout the Himalayas.
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