WVI Nepal Declares Category I National Response to Flash Floods in Rasuwa and Nuwakot
A major flash flood entered Nepal through the Bhote Koshi River at around 9:00 AM on 26 August, causing significant damage in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. The worst-affected areas include Timure, Rasuwagadhi, and Syabrubesi, where homes, markets, roads, and hydropower infrastructure were destroyed. Rescue and relief operations are underway, and authorities have issued alerts for communities along the Trishuli River.
World Vision Nepal is closely monitoring the evolving situation and coordinating with government authorities, local partners, and humanitarian actors to assess the needs of affected communities. WV Nepal has declared a Category I National Response and is preparing a 90-day humanitarian response focused on emergency food assistance, shelter support, hygiene and protection services for vulnerable families.
According to the latest available reports, at least 177 people have lost their lives in Nepal. More than 800 people remain missing or unaccounted for, including a large number of foreign nationals and dozens of security personnel. Search and rescue operations continue across affected districts as authorities work to verify casualties and locate missing individuals.
The disaster has caused extensive damage to lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure exposing children and vulnerable families to increased risks, including displacement, food insecurity, interruption of learning, psychosocial distress, and protection concerns.
Prior to the flood, children and households in the affected districts were already facing significant vulnerabilities. In Nuwakot, a 2024 secondary data analysis of 667 children under five years of age from 3,183 households found higher-than-national-average levels of malnutrition, with 32% of children stunted, 12.1% wasted, and 13.9% underweight. These pre-existing nutrition challenges increase the risk of food insecurity and poor health outcomes among children affected by the disaster.
Rasuwa also faces significant child protection concerns. National census data indicate that female child marriage remains among the highest in Bagmati Province, placing adolescent girls at heightened risk during emergencies when families experience displacement, loss of livelihoods, and disruption of support systems. The flash flood is therefore expected to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities related to nutrition, child protection, access to education, and essential services, underscoring the need for timely and child-focused humanitarian assistance.
While the affected areas are outside World Vision Nepal's current programme locations, the organisation's strong humanitarian response experience and existing partnerships position it well to support relief efforts. The area was previously part of World Vision International Nepal's 2015 earthquake response.
During the relief phase, World Vision Nepal plans to support approximately 1,000 affected households with emergency food assistance, shelter kits, hygiene kits, including support for pregnant and lactating women, and dignity kits to address immediate protection and basic needs.
Rapid needs assessments are underway to determine the scale of humanitarian needs, particularly among children and other vulnerable households. The recovery phase is expected to include immediate livlihood support and education-focused interventions to help children safely return to learning and restore access to essential services.
"The scale and suddenness of this flood have left many families facing immense uncertainty and hardship. As rescue and relief efforts continue, we stand in solidarity with the affected communities and remain committed to supporting efforts that help children and families recover with safety, dignity, and hope,” says Roslyn H. Gabriel, National Director, WV Nepal.