Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah has criticised the international system for what he described as a stark imbalance in the movement of military equipment and essential goods.
Addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, Shah said farmers in Nepal can face difficulties obtaining fertiliser and fuel when they are needed, while weapons and ammunition are able to cross borders quickly.
“We have built a world with flawless logistics for war and broken logistics for food,” Shah said.
He said the issue extends beyond Nepal, identifying Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as countries in the region facing similar challenges.
“Ask Sri Lanka,” Shah said, arguing that countries across the region have been affected by climate-related pressures and the consequences of conflicts they did not initiate.
Shah connected the issue to broader concerns over climate change, global supply chains and inequality, saying countries with limited resources should not bear a disproportionate burden from crises they did not create.
He also called for stronger international cooperation on climate resilience and climate finance, urging faster access to assistance for vulnerable countries when natural disasters occur.
