Nepal, June 27 -- Floods and landslides have long been part of the country's natural hazard landscape. Historically, such disasters were triggered by rare extreme weather events, often occurring once every few years or decades. Today, however, the monsoon season and disasters have become almost synonymous. What was once considered an occasional calamity is now an annual crisis: Devastating floods and landslides have emerged as the new norm. The growing impact of these disasters is not merely a result of climate variability, but also a reflection of increasing exposure due to unplanned development, weak policy enforcement and a general disregard for disaster risks.

Despite recent catastrophes that clearly signal what lies ahead, developme...