South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund

Recently supported emergencies

A building damaged by the 2026 Rasuwa flash floods in Nepal

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.

2 December 2025

News release

WHO provides emergency funds to scale up health response in cyclone-hit Sri Lanka

22 January 2024

Departmental update

SEARHEF Nepal Earthquake

Earthquake in Nepal 2023

SEARHEF supported immediate response for earthquake that hit Karnali Province of Nepal on 3 November 2023. SEARHEF was utilized to provide life-saving services and minimize disabilities.

Tropical Cyclone Seroja: Timor-Leste

SEARHEF supported the continuous provision of essential health services and infection prevention and control measures as health response during Tropical Cyclone Seroja in Timor-Leste in April 2021.

COVID-19 Pandemic response: Maldives

SEARHEF supported Maldives to strengthen the COVID-19 response in 2020 and released US$ 175 000 to improve laboratory infrastructure and training of health staff in surveillance, case investigation and rapid response.

COVID-19 Pandemic response: Thailand

Thailand was the first country outside of China to report a case of COVID-19. First tranche of US$ 175 000 was rapidly mobilized to support country’s response in early 2020. This helped to quickly initiate essential actions as part of the COVID-19 Pandemic response.

News

6 July 2026

Departmental update

Fifteenth meeting of the Working Group for Governance of the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF)

2 July 2026

News release

WHO, Member States discuss expanding South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund SEARHEF

With climate-related disasters, disease outbreaks and other health emergencies becoming more frequent and complex across South-East Asia, WHO and Member States today discussed meas ...

22 January 2024

Departmental update

SEARHEF Nepal Earthquake

11 March 2026

Departmental update

Mobilizing Solidarity and Collective Action for Emergency Operations

2 December 2025

News release

WHO provides emergency funds to scale up health response in cyclone-hit Sri Lanka

As Sri Lanka faces rapidly worsening conditions triggered by a cyclonic storm, the World Health Organization today provided US$ 175 000 as emergency funds to support essential heal ...

10 February 2025

News release

WHO thanks Nepal for its contribution to South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund

The World Health Organization South-East Asia Region today thanked the Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal, for contributing Nepalese Rupees 1500 000, approximat ...

9 October 2024

News release

South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund’s corpus expanded

To match the growing need to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies, Member States of WHO South-East Asia Region today agreed to treble the corpus of the South-East A ...

12 July 2024

Departmental update

13th Meeting of the SEARHEF Working Group, 02 July 2024

The thirteenth meeting of the Working Group for governance of the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund was conducted via video link on 2 July 2024. The nominated Working ...

SEARHEF, Regional Committee Resolutions and Decisions for South-East Asia

SEARHEF documents

searhef flyer

Protecting Health in initial hours of Crisis. The South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) bridges the critical gap between onset of emergencies and arrival of larger humanitarian support – ensuring Member States* can act when it matters most.

Leaders talk