The United Nations has raised an alarm over the catastrophic flash floods in Nepal, with more than 1,000 fatalities reported and thousands still missing. Jens Laerke of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted that the death toll had reached 987, and continued to rise throughout the day. The floods, triggered by a glacier collapse near Nepal’s border with China on August 26, devastated settlements and infrastructure in the region (JURIST).
The affected districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading have seen homes, roads, and bridges destroyed, complicating rescue operations. Ongoing monsoon rains and unstable slopes have rendered several areas inaccessible. UN Women has estimated that 43,000 women and girls require immediate assistance, as they face food shortages, a lack of safe water, and increased protection risks. Christine Arab of UN Women highlighted that 160,000 women and girls in the affected areas have been impacted.
The destruction has exacerbated existing gender inequalities. In these communities, women traditionally traveled long distances to collect water. With infrastructure damaged, these journeys are now more perilous, and risks of gender-based violence and trafficking are heightened. Women-headed households are particularly vulnerable due to the frequent absence of men who migrate for work.
The World Health Organization has warned of potential secondary health crises. Stagnant water from the floods could lead to outbreaks of diseases such as dengue and scrub typhus. UNICEF reported that at least 17,000 children have been affected and called for $17.2 million in aid for emergency response and recovery efforts. Information from WHO echoes these health concerns.
Nepal’s exposure to climate change-induced disasters remains a critical concern, despite its low carbon footprint. The Himalayas have lost almost a third of their glacial ice over the past three decades, as highlighted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres last year. The country continues to grapple with the stark realities of climate vulnerability, facing adverse outcomes from global environmental changes that it contributes minimally to.