UNICEF says thousands of children require mental health support after Nepal floods

Triggered by glacier collapse, the 26 August floods affected more than 84,000 Nepalis – including about 32,000 children – and damaged critical roads, schools, power grids and water systems across the Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading regions of northern Nepal.

Local authorities report more than 1,300 killed and more than 5,000 still missing on the Nepal side of the border, and at least 43 people killed and 519 still missing on the Tibetan side, according to official Chinese Government figures.

Many children affected by the floods witnessed the loss of loved ones and the destruction of their schools while some remain displaced from their communities. 

Some 541 children remain separated from their families and require protection, UNICEF reported.

“Beyond the visible destruction, these floods have left deep emotional scars on children and families,” said Alice Akunga, UNICEF Representative in Nepal. “Alongside humanitarian supplies and restoration of critical infrastructure, children need mental health and psychosocial support to help them process what happened, regain a sense of security and begin to recover.”

Why mental health support?

The flooding began at 8:37am local time – at the beginning of the school day for many children.

According to Ms. Akunga, those who witnessed distressing events are now struggling with fear, anxiety and grief, with some unable to speak about what they experienced.

Shitanshu Dhakal, a medical doctor at a hospital in Nuwakot and a mental health advocate, described the “invisible burden” of trauma on flood-affected children and the fear many still feel long after the floods.

“Children must be at the centre of the mental health response, with immediate psychological first aid and sustained support to prevent long-term consequences,” Dr. Dhakal said.

UNICEF also highlighted the importance of acting quickly. Evidence shows that early mental health intervention is critical because it can stop acute stress from becoming a lifelong chronic disorder.

Support on the ground

On the ground in Nepal, UNICEF is working with the Nepal Government and other partners to support children through family tracing, reunification and mental health services.

Eighteen children have already been reunified with their families, and 13 UNICEF-supported Child-Friendly Spaces have been established.

UNICEF is helping to arrange alternative family-based care for youngsters who have lost both parents, and monitoring teams are working to identify those at-risk and prevent exploitation.

Meanwhile, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) – the UN’s global fund for education in emergencies – announced on Tuesday a $1 million allocation to support 17,000 children across Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading.

Of those, 5,000 will receive education and protection support, while 12,000 will benefit from risk reduction interventions.

Still, with nine schools severely damaged or destroyed, ECW said Nepal’s education system will require more funding from governments, foundations and the private sector to fully rebuild from the floods.

“With climate-related emergencies disrupting children’s education with increasing frequency, we must ensure that a temporary crisis does not turn into permanent learning loss,” ECW Director of Education Maysa Jalbout said.