Response Coordination

The Response Coordination unit of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, South-East Asia Region (SEAR) aims at reduce mortality and morbidity, saving lives and protecting health of population affected by emergency by strengthening operational readiness of the Member States.

World Health Organization, Regional Office for South-East Asia continues to provide strategic, technical, and operational support to Member States in responding to emergencies ensuring all countries and partners are prepared for and can prevent, detect, and respond to health emergencies. The WHE Programme became active in August 2016 with the adoption of the Incident Management System (IMS) and operational partnership development being two of the key organizational approaches to manage emergencies. The Regional Office supports and facilitates implementation of Incident Management System for emergency response operations in affected countries for effective and efficient management of emergencies in the Region.

The EMO unit since its inception in 2017, has been providing unstinted support to Member States to scale-up readiness and respond to public health emergencies ranging from natural hazards and adverse climate changes, emerging and re-emerging diseases including zoonoses, unplanned urbanization, deteriorating air and water quality, looming threats of unexpected Chemical, Biological and Radionuclear (CBRN) events amidst the growing socio-political tensions and to complex emergencies that resulted out of civil conflicts. EMO plays crucial role in enhancing readiness for response across key technical areas, encompassing, coordination, health emergency workforce, operation support, and logistics. .

Responding to Health Emergencies

Nepal: flash floods and health response

On 26 August 2026, severe flash floods affected parts of central Nepal, including communities along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors. Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan districts in Bagmati Province, and Gorkha and Tanahun districts in Gandaki Province, have been affected. The Government of Nepal has declared 15 municipalities in the affected districts as disaster crisis-affected areas for three months.

Preliminary information indicates that flooding in Rasuwa followed a sudden surge of water into the Bhote Koshi River from the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, possibly linked to an upstream ice avalanche and temporary damming of the Lhende River. Assessments are ongoing to confirm the full extent of damage to communities, infrastructure and health services.