“CASCADING HAZARDS”
“We haven’t seen a mountain hazard event like this for a very, very long time,” Kamal Kishore, head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, told the press conference.
“It’s really immense and we are still coming to grips with the extent of the damage.”
He said the disaster was still unfolding in an ecosystem where one disaster could trigger “a range of cascading hazards”.
The UN children’s agency UNICEF said at least 14 children were confirmed dead.
“Sadly, we’re only seeing the beginning of this tragedy,” spokesman Ricardo Pires told reporters.
“For those who survived, the emergency is far from over. Children now face increased risks of disease, malnutrition, violence and exploitation, as well as the psychological impact of what they have experienced.”
He said 18 schools had been destroyed and another 20 damaged, with an estimated 10,000 children urgently needing support to continue their education.
The World Health Organization said eight health workers were missing and six health facilities had been damaged.
“The priority is to ensure continuity of health services,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said.
He said the UN health agency had delivered surgical masks and gloves and body bags to Nepal.
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