Nepal floods leave 17,000 children in urgent need

Aid is increasingly reaching survivors of devastating floods along the Nepal-China border, with authorities and aid groups mobilizing thousands of personnel and resources to rescue and shelter those displaced. The disasters have left at least 17,000 children in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, and 18 schools destroyed with 20 more damaged, disrupting education for thousands. Rescues are ongoing across districts like Nuwakot, Rasuwa and Dhading, as officials report that tens of thousands have been affected and hundreds of thousands remain in dire need of food, water and shelter, while missing-person tallies rise toward about 2,000. International agencies are responding: UNICEF has launched a substantial emergency appeal, and Red Cross relief efforts, along with road and infrastructure damage, are hampering access to the worst-hit areas. UN Women warns that women and girls face heightened risks of violence and trafficking in the aftermath, urging coordinated protection and support for affected communities. Relief operations include temporary learning spaces, medical tents, hygiene kits, and nutrition support as communities struggle to recover amid limited access and ongoing risk of disease and malnutrition.