© UNICEF An aerial photograph of a flood-damaged settlement in Rasuwa district, Nepal. Floods in Nepal: more than 17 thousand children need urgent help Humanitarian assistance
At least 17 thousand children are in need of urgent assistance after the massive floods that hit the Nepalese districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading on August 26. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported this on Thursday.
“The United Nations is mobilizing resources and humanitarian teams. We are committed to supporting the efforts of national authorities to provide urgent assistance to [the population],” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher said on PlatformX that he has released the first $2 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to provide support victims.
Flood destroyed homes, schools and hospitals
According to preliminary data, the natural disaster on the Nepal-China border claimed the lives of more than 350 people, including at least 14 children. Even more 1,300 people are listed as missing. The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue.
“Children in Rasuwa and Dhading saw their normal lives washed away in a matter of minutes, destroying homes, schools and health facilities. Some children have died and many have lost loved ones,” said UNICEF Nepal Representative Alice Akunga.
Child survivors of the disaster are now at risk of disease, malnutrition, violence and exploitation, she said. UNICEF is already working in the affected areas and expanding the scale of assistance, but the organization urgently needs additional resources. The UN Children’s Fund has requested $17.2 million for this purpose.
Entire areas are cut off from the outside world
Powerful floods washed away or cut off entire settlements from the outside world. Roads, bridges, hydropower facilities, water supply systems and telecommunications networks were seriously damaged.
Many areas remain largely inaccessible, making it difficult to deliver life-saving aid. At least four health facilities were seriously damaged, limiting access to medical care for children and their families.
Thousands of children were left without schools
Floods completely destroyed 18 schools, and another 20 schools were damaged. Dozens of educational institutions located near river banks remain under threat.
As a result, about 10 thousand school-age children are in urgent need of educational support. It is necessary to create temporary training centers for them and provide them with educational materials. Children and teachers also need psychological support.
Emergency assistance from UNICEF
In collaboration with the Government of Nepal and humanitarian partners, UNICEF is expanding relief operations in the areas of health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, protection children and social support.
In the coming days, medical tents, mosquito nets, baby kits and therapeutic food for children with acute malnutrition will be delivered to the affected areas. Thousands of families are already receiving emergency hygiene kits.
In addition, teams of specialists have been sent there to provide psychological assistance. UNICEF also helps identify and register missing or separated children.