Save the Children Warns of Increased Risks for Girls Following Nepal Floods

KATHMANDU — Protection measures for girls need urgent intensification across flood-affected regions of Nepal due to rising risks of trafficking, exploitation, violence, and child marriage, humanitarian organization Save the Children reported on September 26, 2026.

The warning comes one month after flash floods killed at least 1,400 people and left approximately 5,700 missing, according to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. The resulting displacement and loss of livelihoods have exacerbated vulnerabilities for children, particularly adolescent girls.

Approximately 1,000 individuals remain in communal holding centres, where girls have raised concerns regarding a lack of privacy and safety caused by unfamiliar people moving through shared areas. Other displaced families are living in peripheral camp tents with inadequate nighttime lighting, or have relocated to rented accommodations away from their original communities.

According to the 2021 national census, more than one-third of girls in Nepal are married as children. Save the Children noted that displacement, loss of household income, and school disruptions significantly compound these pre-existing vulnerabilities, leading to early pregnancies and higher dropout rates.

Trafficking also presents a major risk in the post-disaster environment. A report from Nepal's National Human Rights Commission indicated that over 11,500 women and girls were reported missing between 2024 and 2025, with nearly one-quarter remaining untraced. Among documented trafficking survivors, 41% were trafficked for prostitution, and 37% were girls.

Save the Children stated it is collaborating with local authorities and partner organizations to enhance protection at displacement sites. These measures include monitoring, gender-based violence awareness initiatives, psychosocial services, and assisting police at checkpoints to detect signs of trafficking. To date, the organization reported reaching more than 7,500 people, including 2,300 children, with emergency support.

Source