Nepal glacial avalanche leaves hundreds of children orphaned

One month after a catastrophic glacial avalanche and subsequent flooding in northern Nepal, more than 500 children remain in temporary shelters, separated from their parents. The disaster, which began on August 26 near the Langtang Lirung mountain at an altitude of approximately 5,200 meters, was triggered by a massive mass of rock and glacial ice that descended 1,700 meters and traveled 20 kilometers as a torrent of water, mud, and debris.

According to UNICEF, the emergency has displaced over 32,000 children. Rescue teams have recovered 1,451 bodies, while more than 5,700 people remain missing. Prime Minister Balendra Shah addressed the United Nations, describing the event as ‘a warning to the world.’ Many families have lost their homes, leaving survivors in temporary shelters such as public schools in the Nuwakot district.