- Senator Fatima Payman expressed sympathy for Nepal's flood victims and acknowledged the distress within Australia’s Nepali diaspora.
- Payman highlighted Nepal’s vulnerability to climate change, noting that developing nations suffer disproportionately despite their low global emissions.
- The Senator called for international humanitarian aid and cooperation to support Nepal’s disaster recovery and long-term resilience efforts.
- These remarks bolster Nepal’s efforts to gain global attention regarding climate-related damage during the United Nations General Assembly.
CANBERRA, Australia: The devastating floods and landslides in Nepal have drawn attention not only at home but also in Australia, where Senator Fatima Payman has raised the issue in Parliament.
Payman expressed concern over the impact of the recent disasters in Nepal and extended her sympathy to those affected. She also paid tribute to those who lost their lives and highlighted the anxiety among members of Australia’s Nepali community, many of whom have family members and relatives in Nepal.
Speaking in Parliament, Payman drew attention to Nepal’s vulnerability to climate change and the growing risks faced by mountainous and developing countries. She noted that countries such as Nepal, despite making relatively small contributions to global greenhouse-gas emissions, are often among those most severely affected by climate-related disasters.
Her intervention comes at a time when Nepal is seeking greater international attention to the effects of climate change and the need for support for vulnerable countries. Prime Minister Balendra Shah is also expected to raise issues affecting Nepal at the United Nations General Assembly, including the country’s concerns over climate change and the growing impact of extreme weather events.
The support voiced by parliamentarians in developed countries such as Australia is being viewed as important in drawing wider international attention to Nepal’s situation. Nepal has repeatedly called for stronger international cooperation and greater support for countries facing severe climate-related losses and damage.
Payman also stressed the importance of humanitarian assistance and recovery support for communities affected by floods and landslides. Her remarks highlighted the need for continued international attention to relief efforts and the long-term recovery of affected communities.
Nepal has experienced increasingly severe floods, landslides and other extreme weather events in recent years, resulting in loss of life, displacement and significant damage to roads, homes, bridges and other infrastructure. The impact has been particularly severe in mountainous and rural areas, where difficult terrain and limited infrastructure can make rescue and recovery more challenging.
Payman, who represents Western Australia in the Australian Senate, has previously spoken on issues concerning multicultural communities and disaster resilience. She was elected to the Senate in 2022 and has remained active on issues affecting culturally diverse communities in Australia.
Her remarks have also resonated with members of the Nepali community in Australia, where strong family, social and cultural ties with Nepal mean that natural disasters in the country often have a direct emotional impact on the diaspora.
For Nepal, such expressions of concern from lawmakers in countries like Australia could help strengthen international awareness of the challenges faced by communities increasingly exposed to climate-related disasters.
