Nepal-Tibet floods leave survivors fearing all is lost as death toll rises

Tens of thousands of emergency workers are wading through debris in Nepal, searching for survivors of the deadly flash floods that struck villages bordering Nepal and Tibet. The disaster has claimed at least 469 lives, with thousands more still unaccounted for, leaving survivors in a state of despair.

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It's a very difficult situation, it's a remote location.

Among the missing are at least 39 Australians, with authorities urgently working to identify and confirm the welfare of those in the affected region. Foreign Minister Penny Wong acknowledged the "unfortunate possibility" that the number of missing Australians could rise, describing the situation as "very difficult" due to the remote location.

For individuals like 33-year-old Shova Shrestha, the wait for news is agonizing. She has spent over a day trying to reach her husband, Rajan Shrestha, whose phone initially rang but has since gone silent. Shrestha anxiously watches every helicopter landing in Bidur, the capital of Nuwakot district, hoping for his return.

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I keep looking at each helicopter, hoping he will step out of it.

The United Nations children's agency reports that at least 17,000 children in Nepal have been affected by the floods. UNICEF estimates that approximately 10,000 school-aged children will require immediate support for their education, as 18 schools were destroyed and another 20 sustained damage. Alice Akunga, UNICEF's representative to Nepal, stated that children in the Rasuwa and Dhading districts have lost their homes and classrooms, facing heightened risks of disease, malnutrition, violence, and exploitation.

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Their homes, classrooms, and medical facilities damaged. Children who have survived the floods now face heightened risks of disease, malnutrition, violence and exploitation.

Australia has pledged $5 million in aid for the flood-affected communities in Nepal and Tibet, which will be distributed through Australian non-profits and the World Food Programme. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that humanitarian assistance, including food, emergency shelter, and medical support, is being provided. Meanwhile, among the 910 people missing in Nepal, 517 are foreign nationals from over two dozen countries, including significant numbers from India, the United States, and Britain.

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Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those affected as we urgently work to confirm the welfare of missing Australians.