Nepal Floods Leave 540 Children Separated From Parents as They Fight to Rebuild Their Lives
More than 500 children in Nepal have been separated from their parents following devastating floods that swept through the China-Nepal border region, leaving children facing loss, displacement and uncertainty.
The August 26 floods, described as Nepal’s worst-ever flood disaster, destroyed homes and infrastructure and claimed thousands of lives. Nepal’s disaster agency reported that 1,385 bodies had been recovered, while 5,130 people remained missing.
Among the affected children is 12-year-old Ritu Maya Tamang, whose mother was swept away by floodwaters. Her younger sister is receiving treatment for pneumonia, while her father remains at her bedside.
Despite the loss, Tamang continues to attend a temporary learning centre run by Save the Children in Nuwakot district. She says she still dreams of becoming a doctor, even as she struggles with nightmares about the disaster.
Save the Children’s preliminary assessment found that at least 540 children have been separated from their parents and are living in relief camps alongside thousands of other displaced people.
Teachers and psychologists at temporary learning centres said many children initially experienced shock, fear and difficulty sleeping. Safe learning spaces, play activities and psychological support are helping them begin to recover.
The Nepalese government has pledged to guarantee education through high school for children affected by the floods. It also plans to establish a $6.5 million scholarship fund supporting about 1,000 students, with priority given to children who have lost their guardians.
The response highlights the need to keep education, family support and child safeguarding at the centre of Nepal’s long-term flood recovery.
