Many of the deaths have occurred in the capital Kathmandu, which saw the most intense rainfall in more than half a century. Hundreds of homes, schools and hospitals have been damaged and the southern part of the city is still flooded.
The rain, which started on September 27 and lasted for more than 72 hours, also caused extensive damage outside the capital. Forty-four of Nepal’s 77 districts have been affected, with many areas cut off, bridges and roads swept away, and electricity and telecommunications networks disrupted.
Security forces and volunteers rescued about 4,500 people. It is estimated that more than 7,600 families have been severely affected, many of whom lived in informal settlements that were washed away.
Moreover, access to water and food and its affordability could become a major challenge in the coming days as water pumps, pipes and croplands have been damaged.
Take care of children
In response to the disaster, UN humanitarian teams, together with the government and partners, quickly mobilized to provide assistance and assess the damage.
UN Children’s Fund emergency teams (UNICEF) for example are distributing essential supplies including hygiene kits, water purification tablets, blankets and mosquito nets, a spokesperson said UN news.
Florine Bos, head of communications at UNICEF Nepal, said the agency has also set up a medical tent to temporarily replace a major hospital that was destroyed, potentially helping 2,000 people reach healthcare.
She also highlighted that children are at increased risk of violence, abuse and exploitation, especially as many schools are closed after being damaged.
“We are very concerned about children’s access to schools. Schools are not just for learning, but are also a safe place where children meet their friends and play,” she says.
“We hope that schools will open soon,” she added.
‘Unprecedented disaster’
Azmat Ulla, head of the country office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Nepal, emphasized the unprecedented nature of the disaster.
Speaking to media at a briefing in Geneva via video link from Kathmandu, he said access to essential resources such as fresh water will be a challenge in the coming days and once the floods recede, there will be a water and water threat. Vector-borne diseases such as dengue.
“There are still many villages isolated by impassable roads and broken bridges…the Nepal Red Cross and IFRC have been working with local authorities to clean roads and reach people in need, and these efforts are making a difference,” said Mr Ulla.
© UNICEF/Laxmi Prasad Ngakhusi
A view of flooded areas in southern Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, after heavy rainfall continued for several days across the country.
While its teams are working on immediate relief efforts, the Red Cross is also preparing for long-term recovery, including launching a humanitarian appeal, he added.
“As Nepal faces the increasing threat of climate change, which has intensified disasters like this, community preparedness will be key,” he said.