Nepal floods death toll nears 1,000 as survivors struggle for aid

Humanitarian officials from the UN and Red Cross indicate that rescue efforts face difficult conditions, and thousands of survivors are struggling to access food, clean water, and medical care. Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA, also reported 16 deaths and 546 missing in China. Matt Baden, operations manager for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies IFRC, warned that search and rescue operations are ongoing amid dangerous conditions, with the monsoon still active.

Obstructed waterways raise fears of further flooding, and the threat of landslides is immediate. In the hardest-hit districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading, vehicles, roads, and entire homes are buried under mud, making access extremely difficult. A journey that once took ten minutes now takes nine hours.

The Nepalese Red Cross, supported by the IFRC, is distributing water, food, shelter, and hygiene kits. The IFRC has released one million Swiss francs in emergency funds and launched an appeal for 25 million to support aid and recovery. Baden emphasized that many communities remain isolated, with homes destroyed and livelihoods lost.

Women and girls are among the most vulnerable, with Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, stating that 43,000 women an