Nepal flash floods increase death toll and threaten women and girls' health

Rescue operations are ongoing across Nepal after a series of flash floods swept through the mountainous region last week, killing dozens and displacing thousands. Humanitarian groups have shifted attention to the specific challenges faced by women and girls, whose safety, nutrition and access to essential services have been disproportionately affected by the disaster.

Aid agencies report that damaged roads and collapsed health facilities have limited medical care for pregnant women, new mothers and girls needing reproductive health services. Teams from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, UNICEF and local NGOs are distributing clean water, sanitary kits and mobile health units to remote villages, while coordinating with the government to restore clinic operations. The focus on gender‑sensitive assistance aims to prevent secondary health crises and ensure that recovery efforts address the needs of the most vulnerable populations as Nepal moves toward stabilizing the affected communities.