UN warns of humanitarian crisis after Nepal floods
News Desk
New York: Rescue teams and helicopters have intensified operations across flood-hit areas along the Nepal-China border, as more than 1,000 people remain missing and the United Nations warns of growing humanitarian needs among survivors.
Torrents of water, mud and ice swept through steep Himalayan valleys, destroying homes and critical infrastructure and cutting off entire communities. Emergency responders are facing major challenges in reaching some of the worst-hit areas.
Nepal’s Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts have suffered extensive damage, with roads, bridges, hydropower facilities, water supply systems and telecommunications networks badly affected.
The United Nations described the immediate humanitarian needs in the three districts as “huge”, as families struggle with deaths, displacement and disruptions to essential services.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the world body was mobilising humanitarian teams and emergency supplies to support Nepal’s efforts to provide assistance to affected communities.
Children are among those facing serious risks following the disaster. UNICEF said at least 17,000 children have been affected, with homes, schools and health facilities damaged by the floods.
UNICEF Representative to Nepal Alice Akunga said many children had witnessed their homes and communities being destroyed, while survivors now face increased risks of disease, malnutrition, violence and exploitation.
The United Nations and its agencies are providing food, medical supplies and relief materials as part of the government-led response. The World Health Organization has dispatched an emergency health kit containing medicines and supplies capable of supporting basic health services for up to 10,000 people.
WHO has also supplied six multipurpose tents to help sustain healthcare services in areas where medical facilities have been damaged.
The destruction of roads and bridges has significantly hampered relief operations, leaving several affected areas difficult to access. The World Food Programme and UNICEF were preparing to deploy teams and trucks loaded with emergency supplies.
Across the border in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, authorities said around 560 people remained missing, while the UN reported casualties and widespread destruction in the affected areas.
Efforts are also underway to assess the scale of the disaster using satellite imagery. UN-SPIDER is assisting disaster-response efforts by linking experts with space agencies to map affected areas and support damage assessment.
A collapsing glacier in the Himalayan valleys has been cited as a possible trigger for the sudden flash floods and mudslides, although authorities and experts continue to assess the precise cause.
Rasuwa, about 80 kilometres north of Kathmandu, was among the hardest-hit areas. Timure, Rasuwagadhi and Syabrubesi suffered significant damage, affecting communities and a region popular with trekkers, climbers and pilgrims heading towards the Langtang Valley.
The disaster has once again highlighted Nepal’s vulnerability to extreme weather and natural hazards. The country was hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in 2015 that killed more than 8,800 people, while heavy rains last October triggered floods and landslides that affected more than 30,000 people.
The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction has warned that disasters are expected to become more frequent and severe. UNDRR estimates that the world could face around 560 medium- to large-scale disasters annually by 2030.
According to the agency, global disasters could increase by 40 per cent between 2015 and 2030, driven partly by climate change and the underestimation of disaster risks.
