Nepal: Drought - Jul 2025

Although the monsoon arrived in Nepal on 29 May, the majority of areas in Madhesh Province (Province 2) remain deprived of rain six weeks later. The lack of rainfall has led to a water crisis, and the province is facing an unexpected drought despite predictions of above-average rainfall. The province has a population of 6.12 million (CBS, 2021), of which approximately 1.2 million are affected. Water sources have dried up and the groundwater table has been depleted, creating a critical shortage of drinking water and impacting irrigation for agriculture. As a result of these water shortages, farmers are unable to transplant paddy saplings. The drought has left seedbeds dry and paddy saplings withering, raising fears of an impending food shortage in Nepal’s primary rice-producing region.

According to a decision made by the Federal Government on 23 July 2025, all 136 municipalities across the eight districts of Madhesh Province have been officially declared drought-affected areas. There is still uncertainty about monsoon rains in the region, which might prolong the drought and its adverse impacts on health, hygiene and sanitation. (IFRC, 6 Aug 2025)

On 22 August 2025, a surge of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) cases was reported in Birgunj Metropolitan City of Parsa District, Madhesh Province. On 26 August 2025, the National Public Health Laboratory officially confirmed the outbreak of Cholera in Birgunj Metropolitan City, which has now spread to the adjoining municipality of Bara District. It was not expected to have an outbreak of cholera at this level. Few cases of diarrhea were observed when IFRC supported the distribution of RDT kits a few weeks before the outbreak, however the cases spread suddenly and cholera was confirmed when it was tested. Due to the drought situation, lack of safe drinking water caused it to be more than expected. [...] According to Nepal's Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, the epidemic curve shows the trend of new cases reported daily between 9 August and 7 September 2025, with a total of 1,171 cases, with reported 53 new cases in 24 hours. The report shows that 1,074 infected people recovered and still 97 active cases are being treated in different hospitals. Initial case counts were very low, ranging from 1 to 6 per day until 19 August, after which a sharp rise was observed. Cases increased rapidly, peaking at 115 new cases on 27 August, followed by fluctuations with secondary smaller peaks on 23 August (82 cases) and 25 August (96 cases). After the peak, a gradual decline is noted, though daily cases remained significant, ranging between 36 and 60 in early September, with a small resurgence to 53 cases on both 6 and 7 September. (IFRC, 17 Sep 2025)