Monsoons could bring disease, a second crisis, to Nepal: UNICEF

There is only “a small window of time” for relief workers in Nepal to put in place measures to protect people from deadly disease outbreaks. The earthquake last Saturday has left 3 million people needing food assistance and flattened more than 130,000 homes, meaning 24,000 people are currently staying in 13 camps in Kathmandu, UNICEF said. Most urgently needed are medical supplies, clean water, sanitation, and shelter for those whose homes have been destroyed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some hospitals in the worst affected areas have been completely destroyed. There is no shortage of staff, but an urgent need for medical supplies.

Hospitals are overflowing, water is scarce, bodies are still buried under the rubble and people are still sleeping in the open.

Rownak Khan, UNICEF’s deputy representative in Nepal

The prevalence of diseases such as diarrhea, respiratory illnesses, measles and even cholera, which has been endemic in Nepal in recent years, “skyrocket” when people are living outdoors in heavy rains. Nepal’s monsoon season normally runs from June to September. The earthquake last Saturday has left 3 million people needing food assistance and flattened more than 130,000 homes, meaning 24,000 people are currently staying in 13 camps in Kathmandu, UNICEF said.