The United Nations said on Tuesday that Nepal’s response to last week’s devastating flash floods had entered a new stage, with authorities increasing relief and recovery operations as the number of deaths and missing people continued to rise. Preliminary assessments indicate that more than 2.2 million tonnes of debris have accumulated across the worst-affected river system.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that authorities had recovered more than 1,000 bodies, while around 3,900 people were still unaccounted for. Nearly 12,000 people have been rescued so far.
About 3,500 displaced residents are currently staying in 27 temporary shelters across the badly affected districts of Nuwakot and Rasuwa. Many people are taking refuge in schools, causing interruptions to children’s education.
According to a preliminary assessment by the UN Development Programme, the floods left at least 2.2 million tonnes of debris along the affected river system. Around 556,200 tonnes of this was building debris, based on satellite assessments of more than 2,300 damaged structures.
The disaster also caused severe damage to Nepal’s energy infrastructure. Eleven hydropower stations and one solar facility were damaged, affecting approximately 431.1 megawatts of generating capacity. In addition, 15 hydropower projects under construction, expected to provide another 470 megawatts, were also affected.
Dujarric identified limited access as one of the biggest obstacles to relief operations. More than 40 bridges were destroyed, while several sections of the main highway were blocked. As a result, isolated communities have depended on army helicopters to receive essential supplies.
The UN also raised concerns about worsening health conditions caused by overcrowded shelters, polluted water and damaged medical facilities. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to disease amid the ongoing monsoon season.
Meanwhile, official figures from Nepal and China indicated that the combined death toll from flash floods and landslides in the Himalayan border region had exceeded 1,050, while more than 4,000 people, including hundreds of foreign nationals, were still missing.
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