As devastating floods continue to affect communities across Nepal, women and girls are facing increased risks of hunger, violence, exploitation, and displacement.
On August 26, a devastating flash flood struck Nepal, destroying homes, roads, bridges and critical infrastructure across several regions near the Nepal-Tibet border. More than 500 people have been killed, nearly 1,000 remain unaccounted for, and around 10,000 homes have been destroyed. But as the communities respond to the disaster, women and girls are facing additional challenges.
According to UN Women, 157,050 women and girls in the districts of Rasuwa and Nuwakot have been affected by the floods. The organization has warned that the disaster is increasing existing risks of violence and exploitation while limiting access to health care and other essential services.
Natural disasters do not affect everyone equally and existing inequalities can become more severe when homes, schools, hospitals and other essential services are destroyed. For women and girls who already face barriers to resources, losing access to these services can put their safety and livelihoods at additional risk. Access to food and water is a particular concern. Flooding has damaged infrastructure and disrupted essential services, leaving survivors facing shortages.
Women often carry a disproportionate share of responsibility for caring for children and other family members. During a disaster, unpaid care work can increase while the resources available to families decrease.
Education is also at risk. In communities already experiencing poverty and instability, disruptions to education can have long-term consequences for girls’ futures. Approximately one in three women across the affected districts are illiterate. Limited literacy can make it more difficult to access relief efforts, complete registration services, or independently apply for assistance. During an emergency, when information about food, shelter, health care and financial assistance can be critical to safety, these barriers become even more significant.
Women are also carrying much of the responsibility for supporting their households. About one-third of households in Nepal’s Bagmati Province are headed by women, making women the primary providers for many families. The floods have destroyed homes, businesses and critical infrastructure, leaving these women responsible for supporting their families while rebuilding their lives with fewer financial resources. The destruction has made it harder for women-led households to access income and recover from the disaster. Humanitarian responses must therefore address the specific needs of women and girls.
UN Women is working with the Nepali government, women’s rights organizations, and humanitarian partners to provide essential services and protection. The organization is also supporting a women-led Community Kitchen initiative designed to provide immediate food assistance while creating opportunities for women’s leadership and livelihoods during the recovery process. UN Women has raised $2 million to support women and girls affected by the floods.
The devastation in Nepal will not disappear when the floodwaters recede. Communities will have to rebuild homes, families, and important infrastructure, but recovery must also address the inequalities that existed before the disaster. Women and girls cannot be treated as an afterthought. They need access to safe shelter, food, clean water, health care and education throughout the recovery process. Nepal’s floods demonstrate that disaster relief is not only about rebuilding, but is about making sure that the people who are most vulnerable are not left even further behind.