Nepal Floods: UNICEF Rushes Aid as 17,000 Children Face Crisis

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported that more than 17,000 children in Nepal are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance following devastating flash floods. The disaster has severely impacted the Himalayan region, with authorities in Nepal and China confirming over 390 fatalities and more than 1,400 people missing, including hundreds of foreigners and pilgrims.

In the hard-hit Nuwakot district, aerial footage reveals the extent of the destruction, showing collapsed buildings along riverbanks and communities surveying the damage. UNICEF staff are on the ground, working alongside the government and local partners to assess the situation and coordinate a response.

"Our priority first and foremost is the children, to make sure that they're safe, protected and eventually able to recover from this disaster," said Preena Shrestha, Communication Officer for UNICEF's Nepal office, speaking from the affected district.

The floods have taken a heavy toll on education infrastructure, with 18 schools completely destroyed and another 20 sustaining damage. This has deprived children of safe spaces to learn, play, and recover from the trauma of the disaster.

In the capital, Kathmandu, UNICEF teams are working at Tribhuvan International Airport to dispatch pre-positioned supplies. Pooja Dulal, a Communication Associate with UNICEF Nepal, explained the urgency of the operation: "Behind every box being loaded today is support for children and families affected by the floods. We are dispatching pre-positioned UNICEF supplies, including hygiene kits and other essential items."

These supplies are part of UNICEF's emergency preparedness strategy, designed to ensure rapid response when disaster strikes. "In an emergency, every hour counts, and having supplies readily available helps us support UNICEF efforts as quickly and efficiently as possible," Dulal added.

UNICEF is scaling up life-saving support across multiple sectors, including health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education, child protection, and social protection. The agency's immediate focus remains on ensuring the safety and recovery of the most vulnerable—the children affected by this catastrophic event.