2.4 million children affected by recent floods in India: UNICEF

An estimated 2.4 million children have been affected by recent floods in India, UNICEF said on Thursday, calling for immediate support, more resources and invative programmes to dress challenges faced.

In a statement, UNICEF said though flooding at this period of year is common, this widespre scale of floods during mid-July is unusual.

"In India, over 6 million people across Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Mhya Presh, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Uttar Presh and West Bengal have been affected by floods, including an estimated 2.4 million children," it said.

UNICEF said it is working with government and partners to respond quickly and effectively.

It said it is also supporting Assam government to implement COVID-19 apted relief camp manment guidelines and child friendly s in select districts, in dition to its focused support for maternal and child health service continuity and COVID-19 response in many states, statement said.

Weeks of torrential monsoon rains, widespre flooding and dely landslides in Banglesh, India and Nepal have affected millions of children and families, UNICEF said.

"Even for a region that is all-too-familiar with devastating impact of extreme wear, recent heavy monsoon rains, rising floods and continued landslides are creating a perfect storm for children and families affected," said Jean Gough, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia.

" COVID-19 pandemic and containment and prevention measures d an ditional complication to mix, as COVID-19 cases are accelerating in some of affected areas," she ded.

Gough said fall-out from COVID-19 pandemic is being compounded by climate change and extreme wear events and are arguably biggest issues affecting children in South Asia right w.

Immediate support, more resources and invative programmes are urgently needed to dress challenges that se threats represent to region's children, she said. 

Im Credits: PTI