In late August, devastating flash floods triggered by the collapse of a Himalayan glacier caused widespread destruction across Nepal’s Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts, leaving communities displaced and thousands in urgent need of assistance. The disaster, which began on August 26, claimed more than 1,400 lives, with over 5,700 people reported missing. More than 80,000 residents continue to require humanitarian support as the region faces ongoing risks from landslides and localized flooding.

Among those affected are new and expectant mothers, whose stories underscore the severe challenges faced in the aftermath of the catastrophe. Pooja Pariyal, a 21-year-old mother from Trishuli in Nuwakot district, spent three harrowing days stranded atop Trishuli hospital with her three-month-old daughter, Ridhika. The hospital became an island in the floodwaters that swept away much of their town, including Pariyal’s rented home, which left her ineligible for government compensation.

Pariyal, who was at the hospital for her baby’s third-month vaccination when the flood struck, described a desperate wait marked by hunger and limited sanitation. “Those three days were living hell for me, with no food, no working toilet and no one to help with the baby,” she said, recalling how her milk supply diminished and her infant suffered distress. On the fourth day, an army helicopter evacuated Pariyal and about 50 other patients and staff. After their rescue, Pariyal's daughter was diagnosed with pneumonia. The mother and child are now among approximately 125 displaced individuals housed in 25 tents at a holding center in Bidur, about two miles south of Trishuli.

In Rasuwa district, 23-year-old Kalpana Nepali, seven months pregnant at the time of the floods, recounted her escape after a warning call from her husband, who was working at a hydropower tunnel nearby. She described fleeing uphill in her nightdress to reach higher ground amid rapidly rising waters. Although she fainted and has no memory of the rescue itself, Nepali recalled waking up in a helicopter alongside other survivors. She is currently living with around 80 displaced people in a temporary shelter in Nuwakot district, facing inadequate sanitation facilities and uncertain access to medical care.

Healthcare officials and humanitarian organizations are working to address the specific needs of pregnant and lactating women affected by the disaster. A UN Population Fund communications analyst reported that among the flood-affected population, over 5,000 pregnant women require care, with hundreds experiencing complications. Efforts include assigning expectant mothers to the nearest operational health centers and airlifting those with high-risk pregnancies to maternity hospitals in Kathmandu before delivery.

Lila Pieters Yahia, the United Nations resident coordinator in Nepal, highlighted the heightened vulnerability of pregnant and breastfeeding women in such emergencies. She cautioned that these groups face increased risks of nutritional deficiencies and require targeted support as relief operations continue.

The flood crisis has not only disrupted lives but also strained regional infrastructure, with many roads and bridges destroyed or rendered impassable. Ongoing landslides and additional flooding events pose continuing threats, complicating recovery efforts in this Himalayan border region. For individuals like Pariyal and Nepali, the path ahead remains uncertain as they navigate displacement, health challenges, and limited resources while awaiting more permanent solutions.