Kathmandu: The UN and its humanitarian partners have initiated a $49.6 million flash appeal aimed at providing emergency relief to over 84,000 individuals impacted by last week's severe floods in Nepal. The catastrophe was triggered by the collapse of a glacier on the border between Nepal and the Tibet autonomous region of China on August 26, leading to more than 1,250 fatalities and leaving thousands unaccounted for, as reported by the UN's office in Nepal.
According to Emirates News Agency, the UN's local humanitarian team has assessed that 84,270 Nepalis, encompassing 19,284 households, have been affected by the resulting floods. In response, a UN-backed flight facilitated by UNICEF and the European Union has delivered 84 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid to Kathmandu, the capital city.
The supplies brought in by the children's agency include diarrhoea treatment kits, water tanks, hygiene kits, water treatment supplies, winter clothing, and educational materials. These resources are expected to support hundreds of thousands of residents, particularly focusing on the needs of children and families. Alice Akunga, UNICEF's representative in Nepal, emphasized the shipment's significance, stating, "This shipment will help us deliver urgently needed support and reach children and families with services that protect their health, wellbeing, and future."
Humanitarian partners are actively working to distribute relief items in the most severely affected regions, prioritizing efforts on disease prevention and the restoration of essential infrastructure.