Kathmandu : The death toll from floods that struck Nepal’s mountainous border region with China this week has risen to more than 600, with around 2,000 people missing. The United Nations said more than 17,000 children in affected areas require urgent humanitarian assistance.
Nepalese Foreign Affairs Minister Shisir Khanal said the country requires international assistance in specialised and technical areas, including rescuing people trapped in tunnels, restoring transport and communications where bridges have been destroyed, identifying victims through DNA testing, and preserving bodies for longer periods. He said local teams are able to carry out regular search and rescue operations without foreign assistance.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued an urgent humanitarian appeal to assist at least 17,000 children in flood affected areas. Floods, mudslides and rockslides have completely destroyed 18 schools and partially damaged 20 others.
The International Committee of the Red Cross estimated that around 93,000 people have been directly affected. The floods have displaced residents and damaged homes, hospitals, hydroelectric power stations, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
Humanitarian assistance has begun reaching survivors staying in temporary shelters.
