CCOUC Contributes to IRDR Forum on Transboundary Disaster Risks Following China–Nepal Flash Flood

The Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response (CCOUC) participated in an online forum titled “Transboundary Disaster Risk Reduction: Implications of the China–Nepal Flash Flood of 26 August 2026”, convened by the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) programme in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) on 3 September 2026. The forum brought together international researchers, disaster risk management experts and humanitarian practitioners to examine the devastating flash flood along the Nepal–China border and explore approaches to strengthening transboundary disaster resilience.

The disaster, triggered by a massive ice-rock avalanche in Nepal on 26 August 2026, led to cascading hazards involving debris flows, river blockage and severe downstream flooding. Scientific presentations highlighted the complex interactions between high-mountain hazards, climate-related risks and vulnerable infrastructure, as well as challenges in early warning, cross-border information sharing and emergency coordination.

Professor Emily Ying-yang Chan, Director of CCOUC, contributed to the panel discussion by highlighting the public health implications of the disaster from a Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (HEDRM) perspective. She drew attention to the diverse health risks associated with floods, landslides and high-altitude emergencies, including physical injuries, infections, hypothermia and the mental and social impacts on affected communities. The discussion also emphasised the importance of protecting emergency responders and providing sustained, community-based support for vulnerable populations, particularly older people and children.

The forum highlighted the need for integrated multi-hazard risk assessments, improved early warning systems and stronger cross-border cooperation in disaster risk management. As an IRDR International Centre of Excellence (ICoE) since 2016, CCOUC's participation reflected its commitment to integrating public health considerations into disaster risk reduction and promoting interdisciplinary research and international collaboration to strengthen resilience in disaster-prone regions.