Mass candle lighting at Basantapur on Friday in solidarity with flood victims

To mark one month since the Bhotekoshi flood and express solidarity with those affected by climate-related disasters, a mass candle-lighting event will be held at Kathmandu's Basantapur Durbar area on Friday.

Organizers said the program will run from 3:00 pm to 6:15 pm on Asoj 16. It is being jointly organized by ActionAid Nepal, Youth Advocacy Nepal, Mahila Ekata Samaj, Makwanpur Mahila Utthan Samaj, Chitwan Sakriya Mahila Pratisthan and other organizations.

Three demands will be raised at the event. The first is that the rights, dignity, safety and livelihoods of affected communities must be ensured. The second is that adequate grant-based climate finance is needed for rehabilitation, adaptation and addressing loss and damage. The third demand, according to organizers, is that major emitters must cut emissions and take responsibility for the damage caused.

Sanchारika Samuha Nepal chairperson Kamala Panthi said erratic rainfall and floods have directly affected the daily lives and income of working women. Youth Advocacy Nepal chairperson Ganesh Dhami said residents of Himalayan regions have been disproportionately affected and that development models must be environment- and social justice-friendly. He noted that climate change is also linked to geopolitics.

ActionAid Nepal's Rahul Dewan said the voices of marginalized and minority communities must be raised effectively at national and international forums.