Washington, Sept. 1 (SANA) About 65,000 people in Nepal need emergency assistance following devastating floods and avalanches, while blocked roads are hampering efforts to reach affected communities, the United Nations said Monday.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said access remained the biggest challenge, with major roads across affected areas either fully or partially closed as authorities and aid agencies continued to assess the damage.
About 65,000 people need emergency water, sanitation and hygiene assistance, Dujarric told a daily news briefing, according to the UN News Center.
More than 22,000 children require protection services, while an estimated 2,600 children under five are expected to need treatment for severe wasting. About 10,500 pregnant and breastfeeding women also require nutritional assistance.
The United Nations and its partners are working with local authorities to scale up relief operations. The World Food Programme has dispatched nearly 80 metric tons of food to about 9,200 people, enough to cover their needs for 15 days.
The disaster has also disrupted education. Nineteen schools have been affected, including nine that were completely destroyed, while eight others are being used to shelter displaced families. More than 10,000 school-age children need psychosocial support.
Initial reports indicate that 107 children may have been separated from their parents or caregivers, making family tracing and reunification an urgent priority. UNICEF is providing therapeutic food for about 500 children suffering from acute malnutrition.
The death toll from floods and avalanches along the China-Nepal border has risen to 955, with thousands more reported missing.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the disaster was caused by an avalanche. Scientists have warned that melting glaciers linked to rising temperatures are increasing the risk of floods and landslides across the Himalayan region.
R.A/ABD
