Pic: UNICEF Nepal
According to a press release circulated by UNICEF Nepal today, over 700 people have died and dozens have gone missing across the four countries which are Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Over 4 million children are currently estimated to be impacted and in urgent need of life-saving support, with many millions more at risk.
“The fall-out from the COVID-19 pandemic is being compounded by climate change and extreme weather events and are arguably the biggest issues affecting children in South Asia,” said Jean Gough, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia.
UNICEF is on the ground, working in close coordination with respective governments and humanitarian partners to scale up its responses and support the immediate needs of affected children.
In Nepal, heavy monsoon rainfall has caused flooding and landslides across different parts of the country, impacting more than 20 districts, since July 9. More than 100 people have died, 48 are missing and feared dead while 87 are injured.
Over 10,000 people, half of them children, have been affected with an estimated 7,500 displaced from their homes.
According to the UNICEF, the most urgent needs for children are clean water, hygiene supplies to prevent the spread of disease, food supplies and safe places in evacuation centers for children to play.